Herb
Cymbopogon citratus
A tier
Cymbopogon citratus is West Indian lemongrass—the thick-stalk culinary type of Thai, Vietnamese, and Caribbean kitchens, high in citral lemon aroma. Bulbous bases are bruised for soups; leaves scent teas. The default fresh lemongrass of Asian markets. Prefer tight, heavy stalks without dried outer layers.
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Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Bruise SoupCurryPasteTea
Traits
AromaticCulinary DefaultCulinary Thick StalkHigh CitralLemonSoup And TeaWest Indian Type
History
Botany organised Cymbopogon citratus among aromatic grasses.
Culinary citratus spread through tropical trade as kitchen lemongrass.
Southeast Asian diaspora markets globalised fresh citratus stalks.
Supermarket lemongrass remained mostly C. citratus types.