There is a good chance you have walked past lemongrass a hundred times without realising its most common use in Malaysian and Southeast Asian households is not in a curry pot at all. It is in a teapot. Lemongrass tea has been a quiet household staple for generations, valued long before anyone called it a wellness drink. If you are curious about what lemongrass tea actually does for your body, how it compares to lemongrass ginger tea, and how to make a proper cup at home, here is everything worth knowing.
What Is Lemongrass Tea And Where Does It Come From?
Lemongrass tea is a herbal infusion made by steeping the stalks or leaves of Cymbopogon citratus, a tall tropical grass native to South and Southeast Asia, in hot water. The plant thrives in the same warm, humid climate found across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and southern India, where it has been used in cooking and traditional remedies for centuries.
Unlike black or green tea, lemongrass tea contains no caffeine, which is part of why it has long been a household choice for the evening or for anyone cutting back on caffeinated drinks. Its flavour is bright, citrusy, and slightly sweet, closer to lemon zest than anything bitter, which makes it an easy tea to enjoy without needing sugar or honey to make it palatable.
Health Benefits Of Lemongrass Tea
Lemongrass tea benefits go beyond its pleasant taste, touching on a handful of areas that make it worth keeping in your kitchen cupboard.
1. Immune Support
Lemongrass contains compounds with antioxidant properties, which help the body manage everyday oxidative stress and support general immune function. A warm cup during the sniffly season is a genuinely useful habit, not just a comforting one.
2. Digestion
Lemongrass tea has traditionally been used after meals to ease bloating and general digestive discomfort. Its mild carminative effect helps relax the digestive tract, which is why it is often served in Southeast Asian households as an after-dinner drink rather than a morning one.
3. Stress Relief
The citrusy aroma alone has a calming effect on many people, and the ritual of slowing down to drink a warm cup adds its own layer of stress relief on top of whatever the plant itself is doing. It is an easy way to build a small pause into a busy day.
4. Cardiovascular Health
Some of the compounds in lemongrass have been studied for their potential role in supporting healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, making it a reasonable addition to a broader heart-conscious diet, though it should never replace medical treatment for existing conditions.
Lemongrass Ginger Tea: Added Benefits Of Combining The Two
Lemongrass ginger tea takes everything lemongrass already offers and adds ginger's warming, circulation-supporting properties on top. Ginger contributes compounds like gingerol, known for easing nausea and supporting digestion, which pairs naturally with lemongrass's own digestive benefits rather than working against them.
The combination also tends to feel more warming overall, which makes lemongrass ginger tea benefits especially appealing during cooler evenings, air-conditioned days, or whenever you want something a bit more grounding than lemongrass on its own. The two flavours balance each other well too. Ginger's sharper bite softens lemongrass's citrus note into something a little more rounded.
How To Make Lemongrass Ginger Tea
Making lemongrass ginger tea at home takes barely more effort than boiling water, and fresh stalks give you a noticeably better result than a shortcut version.
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Prepare the lemongrass. Take two to three fresh stalks, remove the tough outer layers, and bruise the stalks with the back of a knife to release their oils before cutting them into two-inch pieces.
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Add the ginger. Slice a one-inch piece of fresh ginger thinly, or grate it if you prefer a stronger flavour.
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Boil the water. Bring two cups of water to a boil in a small pot, then add the lemongrass and ginger.
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Simmer. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for eight to ten minutes, allowing the flavours to fully infuse.
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Strain and serve. Strain the liquid into a cup, discarding the solids, and add honey or a squeeze of lime if you like a touch of sweetness.
If you would rather skip the prep work on a busy day, lemongrass tea bags offer a faster route to the same flavour, though fresh stalks generally give a rounder, more aromatic cup.
Who Should Be Cautious With Lemongrass Tea
Lemongrass tea is generally well tolerated, but it is not automatically the right choice for everyone. Pregnant women are typically advised to limit or avoid lemongrass, since some of its traditional uses are associated with stimulating effects that are best avoided during pregnancy.
Anyone on blood pressure medication, blood thinners, or diabetes medication should also check with a doctor before drinking lemongrass tea regularly, since some of its compounds may interact with how these medications work. If you are new to it, starting with a smaller cup and paying attention to how your body responds is a sensible first step before making it a daily habit.
Making Lemongrass Tea Part Of Your Daily Ritual
Lemongrass tea has stayed a household staple for so long because it does not ask much of you. No caffeine to manage, no complicated brewing, just a warm, citrusy cup that happens to support digestion, immunity, and a calmer afternoon along the way. Whether you drink it on its own or blend in ginger for something warmer, it is one of the easier wellness habits to actually keep.
If you would rather skip the stovetop altogether, TANAMERA's Tea collection brings that same tropical, herbal tradition into a convenient everyday form, drawing on the same plant-based approach the brand has used since 1995. And if you enjoy lemongrass beyond the teacup, TANAMERA's Aromatherapy collection carries a lemongrass essential oil built for diffusing that same familiar scent throughout your home.
