Lemongrass Apple Tea

Why people make this tea

Nourilo came across fresh lemongrass at a Southeast Asian grocery shop and used some to cook pork — a combination that perked up his appetite immediately. With the leftover stalks, he thought: why not make a simple warm drink? Two apples, a few slices of ginger, a little brown sugar — and the result was a fragrant, lightly sweet tea that settled the stomach beautifully.

Lemongrass is beloved across Southeast Asian cuisines not just for its flavor but for its traditional wellness applications. In Chinese food therapy it is associated with dispelling wind and dampness, and with easing pain. Combined with apple and warming ginger, this becomes a pleasant everyday drink that is easy to make and gentle on the body.

Method

1. Rinse lemongrass stalks and cut into segments about 5 cm long. Lightly bruise with the back of a knife or a rolling pin to help release the fragrance.
2. Rinse and soak apples (or wash thoroughly), remove the core, and cut into large rough chunks. There is no need to peel them.
3. Place lemongrass, apple chunks, and ginger slices in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until approximately 900 ml of liquid remain.
5. Add a small amount of brown sugar and stir to dissolve.
6. Pour into cups and drink warm. You can eat the cooked apple pieces as well.

Nourilo’s Tips

This drink has traditionally been used for a range of everyday complaints: wind-damp joint discomfort, stomach ache, headache, indigestion, and a sense of internal stagnation or bloating. It is also associated in traditional food therapy with supporting healthy cholesterol levels and discouraging gallstone formation — though these are traditional associations, not clinical claims.

If you find yourself with leftover lemongrass from cooking, this is a lovely and simple way to make use of every stalk.