Iced Lemongrass Tea

Iced Lemongrass Tea is a fantastic summertime cooler! Lemongrass tea is a fragrant drink made from a perennial grass, cymbopogon citratus or lemongrass. Having a cup of Lemongrass Tea is a great way to unwind. Experience a burst of flavours as you savour this cold aromatic drink with your loved ones and friends. Making lemongrass tea is easy! For this recipe I have used home grown fresh leaves and stalk of the lemongrass plant. You can make it with dried leaves and stalks also.

With an earthy aroma and light citrus flavor, this versatile herb can be served hot or cold. Fragrant and very mildly pungent, lemongrass is a cooling herb that pairs well with food and drinks. Lemongrass is also known as barbed wire grass, silky heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, oily heads, citronella grass or fever grass.

Lemongrass has several health benefits such as reducing inflammation and bloating. It is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Lemongrass is an effective ‘detox’ remedy. It is also believed to boost metabolism enhancing overall immunity as well as promoting weight loss. With health benefits and great taste it is well worth the minimal effort.

Tips for making a perfect Lemongrass Tea

• Always crush the fresh stalk before adding to water so that it can release all the flavours.
• If using fresh lemongrass from your garden use it along with the leaves for added flavour and colour.
• Let the tea cool down to room temperature and then chill it in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until you are ready to serve. Once chilled, serve with ice on top and with a slice of lemon.
• If you don’t have time to chill the tea then let it cool down slightly and pour in a glass over ice. Serve hot as an herbal tea infusion, or chill in the refrigerator and pour over ice. There are no specific measurements of the ingredients for this recipe, just add more or less to suit your taste.
• Use tender root pieces for curries, and save the tough end stalks for making this lemongrass tea or broth. You can keep leftover lemongrass in a zipper bag and freeze to be used as desired. You will find yourself falling in love with this fragrant herb. It is a easy plant to grow in your garden. It grows well on land and in pots.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo at  #theblissofcooking on Instagram.You may like to try our other similar recipes like Hibiscus Tea Recipe and Passion Fruit Ice Tea.  

Yield: 4 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients for Lemongrass Tea

5 cups water
4 fresh lemongrass stalks
2 green tea bags (optional)
1 lemon for juice (optional)
Honey (optional for a sweet taste)

Directions for Lemongrass Tea

• Wash the lemongrass stalk thoroughly.
• Crush or chop the stalk and leaves.
• Bring the water to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer the tea for an additional ten minutes. Switch off the heat.
• Add the green tea and let it steep for five minutes.
• Strain and set aside to come to room temperature.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Serve with a dash of lemon and honey if desired.