Tanglad (Lemon Grass) – Scientific name: Andropogon citratus DC Stapf

English: Lemon grass
Tagalog: Tanglad

Tanglad is a grass and is cultivated throughout the Philippines. It is a popular ingredient in herbal teas and herbal soaps. It is used to aid digestion, for stomach problems and to reduce fevers.

Lemon Grass, common name for several species of grasses originating in Africa and Asia, used for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes. Although traditionally used in India and South East Asia, Lemon Grass is now widely cultivated in tropical America, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean. The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as a food flavouring, particularly in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavour balances hot chillies and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavours of many dishes in South East Asian cuisine.

As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served. The base is often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible for its taste and aroma. Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus), which is native to South East Asia, yields citronella oil, which is used in perfume, cosmetics, and insect repellents. Its repellent properties are also utilized in preparations used in dog and cat control. Fractional distillation of the oil may be used to produce menthol, which has medicinal uses.

Lemon grass , also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass in the Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds, and is utilized in the manufacture of synthetic violet perfume. Other varieties of aromatic oil-bearing grasses include Rosha grass (Cymbopogon martini), which is grown in India; East Indian lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), a native of South India; and camel grass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus), which originates in the Middle East.

Scientific classification: Lemon grass belongs to the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is classified as Cymbopogon citratus.

20 thoughts on “Tanglad (Lemon Grass) – Scientific name: Andropogon citratus DC Stapf

  1. LUIS P. BAZAN

    WE ARE LOOKING FOR PLANTS FOR INDENTIFICATION AS TO OUR SAMPLE FOR RESEARCH. PLEASE DOWNLOAD MORE PHILIPINE MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH PICTURE. THANKS

  2. Kate Maquiran

    For best results, you might as well submit some plant samples for plant identification to institution that focuses on plants, or your local departments for environment and resources

  3. aiesalas.com

    finally billy my special friend from chico california who is here in the philippines who eat tanglad 😀 knew lemon grass now weeeeeeeeeee 😛

  4. mike

    I am familar with lemon grasss tea. wonder if the fever reduction part is a mint or not? Country: Guyana South America

  5. hermie

    Kaesha Quintano Says:
    December 8th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    Tanglad Insect repellent is really effective i tried it.

    Really? Can you share to us how to do the repellant?
    thanks!

  6. Jim Melendres

    I am interested in buying cymbopogon nardus planting materials sufficient for an area of about 5 hectares. Anyone who is able and willing to supply within 30 days may contact me by email or call +63 9194868998.

  7. adrianne manigos

    plese add some other ideas in order we can get more data for our science investigatory projects..thanks!

  8. thelma maraat

    please print picture of tikog grass, the one used in weaving banig, and other products
    thanks
    thelma

  9. Marisa Juan

    I’ve planted tanglad (that was bought from the market)in pots and they are thriving well. I’ve noticed that the mosquitoes are gone now (the plants are in our terrace, where we dry our clothes). Before, even if I use a known brand of fabric conditioner (which claims that it repels mosquitoes), still there are so many mosquitoes on our clothes (think of dengue!). But now, they’re gone. Proven talaga. I also planted kalamansi because I’ve noticed that they have the same citrusy smell. Tanglad plants are unsightly kasi ( parang cogon), but they are effective, really.
    I have a friend who also has tanglad plants in her garden which she uses for cooking, and when I shared this to her, she said,kaya raw pala walang lamok sa kanila.

  10. dong gabriel

    i’m 52 yrs old, as of now i don’t have problem regarding my health. is it safe to take a glass of tanglad juice once a day?

  11. amor

    gagawa po kami ng experiment for science research.we need more plants that can we use for our experiment.(organic insecticide)

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