Citronelle (Lemongrass) Tea

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I’ve been drinking a lot of Citronelle tea these days.  I’m trying to replace black tea with this.  It’s because I drink a lot of black tea and I have to add sugar and milk when I drink that.  So I’m trying to beat the habit.  Black tea also contains caffeine which I’m trying to stay away from.  According to many locals, it’s got medicinal properties so I might as well start drinking it.  It smells heavenly.

Anyway, a few months ago I was in Singapore and I wanted to taste the so-called “lemongrass” juice so I went to the stand where they were selling the natural ones.  It tasted really good, but it was not at all similar to the lemongrass we call “Citronelle” here in Seychelles.  Theirs just tasted like sweet grass without the lemon.

Citronelle tea is just amazing…I don’t drink it with sugar, but it tastes excellent with just a bit of sugar.

I drink the ones you can buy at the stores, with the teabag:

Cup of Citronelle Tea

According to the box, the ‘directions for use’ is:

For your perfect cup:

• Use freshly boiled water
• Use one bag per person
• Pour water onto bag as soon as it has boiled
• Stir immediately
• Leave for 3-5 minutes depending on strength preferred
• Sweeten if preferred
• Once opened store in an airtight container

This is from the ‘Good Earth’ Citronelle box from Seyte.  It’s got 25 teabags and it’s got a retail price of about 20-21 rupees (US$1.75).  The box reads:

Good Earth Citronelle is made from Cymbopogum nardus, a grass with a pleasant lemon flavour; which grows abundantly on the lush and misty slopes of Morne Blanc, Seychelles.

Free of chemicals and fertilisers, our citronelle is naturally caffeine free.  It is carefully selected, slow dried to retain its natural oils and packed to give you a refreshing vitalising infusion.

Truth is, most Seychellois have Citronelle growing in our backyards.

Citronelle Plant In My Backyard

Citronelle Plant Close Up

If You Break Off A Leaf It Releases A Strong Citronelle Scent

My mum infuses the actual leaves if she wants to drink Citronelle.

The modern way to do it is to break off a handful of leaves:

Dump it in the kettle until it boils:

…and then you end up with natural Citronelle tea straight from the backyard that didn’t cost you anything.  The smell is a lot stronger immediately after it’s boiled.  The taste is quite similar…but then again it depends on how long the leaves are infused for.

I can’t seem to find Cymbopogum nardus online.  But I have found some articles on Cymbopogon nardus.  Apparently, it is native to the Philippines, commonly used in cooking and as a tea, it is also a natural insect repellent, and it is also used for its fragrance for perfume, soaps, etc.

Related Links:

• Wikipedia: Cymbopogon
• Wikipedia: Cymbopogon nardus
• Wikipedia: Citronella Oil
• Richters: Citronelle Tea from the Seychelles

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