Lemongrass

Dried lemongrass is one of those aromas that instantly says Thailand. It is not tea leaf, so there is no caffeine. The taste is fresh and clean: citrusy, lightly herbal, with soft green notes and that familiar scent somewhere between lemon peel and a tropical garden.

A refreshing drink hot or iced, naturally caffeine-free, and an easy Thai souvenir that takes almost no space in your bag. Lemongrass is often credited with helping digestion, relaxation and more, but for us it is first of all a fragrant natural ingredient with a beautifully fresh taste, not a medicine.

At the counter we cut the stalks short and brew about 5 g per 300 ml for five to ten minutes. Lemongrass does not turn bitter, so a forgotten cup is still good, and the same stalks take a second pour. A pinch alongside mint, or on a green base in our blend builder, turns an ordinary cup into something unmistakably Thai.