How to Make Thai Lemongrass Tea
Learn how to make Thai lemongrass tea (น้ำตะไคร), a simple Thai drink with an invigorating citrusy flavor and abundant health benefits. This lemongrass and ginger tea is a delightful addition to your repertoire, whether savor it hot on a chilly day or relish it over ice during the scorching summer months. Only 4 ingredients needed!
- Prep time
- 3 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 5 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
Ingredients
- 4 large stalks of lemongrass, cut into 4-inch pieces and bruised with the back of a kitchen knife.
- 2 knobs of ginger, roughly bruised, using the back of a knife
- 1/4 cup sugar. Use more or less as desired.
- 5 cup water
Instructions
- 1
Start by washing and chopping the fresh lemongrass stalks into smaller pieces, around 4-5 inch pieces. Smash the stalks with heavy kitchen objects like the back of a knife, a pestle, a meat tenderizer, or a roller for baking to help release their aromatic oils. Save the lemongrass leaves for garnishing at the end.
- 2
Add lemongrass, ginger, and sugar to a stockpot. Then, pour water into the pot. Set it on the stove for brewing next.
- 3
On high heat, bring the pot of water to a rolling boil. You'll need around 5 cups of water for a strong brew. Let the tea simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld longer if you prefer a strong-tasting tea.
- 4
After simmering, turn the heat off and strain the tea over a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher or a heat-safe container to allow the tea to cool. Discard the solids.
- 5
Sweeten your tea with brown sugar, maple syrup, or sweetener.
- 6
Garnish with your favorite herbs, spices, or edible flowers.
- 7
Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice for an extra citrusy kick and a lemony aroma.
- 8
Enhance your lemongrass tea with mint leaves or a cinnamon stick for an extra layer of flavor.