| Latin Name : | Cymbopogon winterianus |
| English Name : | Citronella |
| French Name : | Citronnelle de Java |
| Family : | Poaceae |
| Origin : | Indonesia, India, Vietnam |
History and Origin
Citronella is an herb from Indonesia with long thin leaves, stalks and inflorescences. Citronella is a genus of trees and shrubs with large perennial leaves, wild or cultivated from tropical regions. It grows generally in temperate regions but it shows a good capacity to adapt. Citronella prefers a sandy and wet soil. It can easily be domesticated and keep in a pot as an interior plant. Its fresh, green, lemony smell is similar to melissa, lemon thyme and lemongrass for which it is sometimes substituted.
It is part of traditional dishes from many countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. It brings a slightly lemony taste. We can find it also in Malaysian, Indonesian and Chinese cooking in the preparation of marinade for fish and meat. We use it in Morocco to flavor the typical Moroccan mint tea. We can also find it fresh in many French dishes.
In North Africa, citronella is planted in front of the doors and windows for repelling mosquitoes.