Most people are likely to confuse citronella with lemongrass and to another extent, their scents and use as well. It’s important to know that these are two different plants although they come from the same family. One is edible while the other is not.
Lemongrass, scientifically known as Cymbopogon Citratus or Cymbopogon Flexuosus, is edible and its fragrant stems are widely used in Southeast Asian cooking. Usually, the stems are sliced and blended into spice pastes or the stem is lightly bruised and used in soups to impart a lemony aroma while promoting digestion. Lemongrass stems are used in Thai, Indonesian, Cambodian, Vietnamese and Malaysian cooking because of their medicinal qualities. It is known locally in Malay as “serai makan” because it is meant for cooking. Note that lemongrass leaves are never used in cooking!
The non-edible Citronella while resembling lemongrass is cultivated for its oil and its main uses are as an essential oil and insect repellant.
Lemongrass is often confused with citronella because as plants, they look similar. Only upon closer inspection of its base stems and leaves (by crushing the leaves in your hands) can you see and smell the difference. To differentiate between citronella and lemongrass, look at their stems. Citronella has red or magenta stems while lemongrass has green stems.
The big difference is that you can cook with lemongrass stems or even make tea with it but you should NOT substitute lemongrass with citronella as citronella is not meant for cooking or brewing teas.
As a folk medicine, lemongrass has many uses. It is rich in iron, calcium and vitamin C and a rich source of flavonoids and phenolic compounds which contain antioxidants. Its stems can be made into lemongrass tea to eliminate ‘wind’ in the body and prevent body odours. Drinking lemongrass tea helps reduce bloatedness after a heavy meal and as such, is often recommended for digestive issues. Lemongrass tea can also be a great reliever of PMS symptoms in women and heal coughs. As an essential oil lemongrass essential oil is yellowish to dark yellow and smells lemony and sweet. When diffused, lemongrass essential oil relieves stress, headaches and exhaustion.
Originally from Sri Lanka and India, Citronella is known as “serai wangi” or scientifically known as Cymbopogon nardus. Its scent is stronger than lemongrass and is used mostly in balms and ointments. Water boiled with citronella leaves and other fragrant Asian herbs is recommended as medicinal bathwater for mothers who have just given birth, especially in the Malay community.
Citronella essential oil consists of a mixture of components including citronellal, citronellol and geraniol as major constituents which offer antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antioxidant and anticonvulsant properties and promote wound healing. Hence, citronella essential oil is known for its aromatherapy properties such as antibacterial, antidepressant, antiseptic, and insect repellent. It has a yellowish-brown tint and a stronger, citrusy scent. Its strong scent helps to fight depression and anxiety and cultivates hope and optimism.
Interestingly, while citronella oil has been often hailed for its mosquito-repelling qualities, research has uncovered that a more potent combination of citronella oil and vanillin is likely to have a longer protection time than citronella oil alone against mosquitoes!
