Lemongrass

The subtle lemony fragrance and flavour of this herb impart a very special cachet to delicate foods and make it a standard ingredient in some Asian dishes, particularly in Thailand, where it is also considered a medicinal agent, prescribed often for digestive disorders.

This South-East Asian original is available in fresh as well as dried form (although the dried form is not used for cooking, but as a herbal tea). Lemongrass is closely related to citronella grass, but latter has a stronger oil content and is more likely to be used commercially in perfumes and as a mosquito repellent. The two relatives should not be confused.