Lemon grass powder is a seasoning made from dried aromatic lemon grass. Also known as Cymbopogon citratum, it is widely used in Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian cooking. However, it is also a diuretic and a stimulating tonic used for its medicinal properties. Further uses of lemon grass powder include its commercial use as a mild insect repellent and as an ingredient in soaps and perfumes.
Asian and Caribbean Cuisine
In Asian countries, lemon grass powder is used to flavor many meat, seafood and poultry dishes. Lemon grass powder combines very well with coconut milk, in particular if the dish is made with seafood or chicken. It is widely used to bring out the flavor in curries, especially vegetable curries.

This aromatic herb is also used in the Caribbean to flavor soups, especially seafood soups. It blends well with chilies, garlic, cilantro, galangal, ginger and Kaffir lime used in Caribbean cuisine.

Lemon grass is becoming popular in the United States and is sold to the public and to restaurants for Asian curries, stews and soups. It is grown in California and Florida and can be found in supermarkets under the name sereh.

Pickles are often spiced with lemon grass powder, and the herb is used extensively in flavoring marinades, especially marinades of chicken and seafood.

Medicinal Teas
Lemon grass has been cultivated in India for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The Chinese use lemon grass tea to relieve headaches and soothe abdominal pain. Mixing the ground lemon grass with pepper is used in Ayurvedic medicine to relieve nausea and menstrual problems. Lemon grass in traditional Brazilian medicine is used as an analgesic, as a sedative and to relieve muscle cramps and spasms.

The herb is a stimulating tonic and a mild diuretic. It stimulates perspiration, and in Asia it is thought to help lower fevers and cool the body in hot weather. Lemon grass powder made into a tea is also used externally to treat scabies, lice and ringworm. Excessive doses of lemon grass powder should be avoided during pregnancy.

The primary component of lemon grass powder is citral, which is an aldehyde with strong anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. High in folic acid, it is also rich in essential vitamins, including thiamin, pyridoxine and pantothenic acid. For this reason, it is used in many herbal teas.

Mild Insect Repellent, Soaps and Perfumes
Lemon grass is a mild insect repellent. It is the main ingredient in citronella candles which help ward off insects and mosquitoes. Lemon grass powder is valued for its exotic citrus fragrance with a slight aroma of rose. For this reason it is used commercially in soaps and fragrant sachets. It is also used in perfumes to give them an intriguing lemony odor. Some massage oils contain lemon grass.

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