I’ve always associated aromas with memories of places, experiences and even changes in the weather. Do you feel the same way? Aromas take me back and make me reminisce.
When I get a whiff of the sweet fragrance of roses I’m instantly rocketed back to my house in Sydney where the iceberg roses I planted some 15 years ago line my front picket fence. The smell of sponge cake baking will always remind me of my mum’s kitchen and my happy country childhood.

A recent memory is of Christmas lunch at the Dharmawangsa Hotel in Jakarta, having only just arrived in the country two days before. As we entered the building, the heady sweet smell of lemongrass wafted through the front door; throughout the lobby and into every space throughout the hotel. From that day, lemongrass became for me the quintessential aroma of Indonesia and marked a significant time in my life story

So...Selamat menikmati teman teman!...Enjoy dear friends!...I hope that in the busyness of your life, these words and this recipe might be an encouragement for you to brew some tea and reminisce. I believe that both are good for the soul...and the benefits magnified when shared with a friend.

Lemongrass + Lemon Tea

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
1 litre of water
4 large sereh or serai stalks (lemongrass), white part only
2 jeruk nipis (lemon) 1 for squeezing and 1 for slicing
3-5 tbsp madu (honey)
Large handful of daun mint (mint leaves)

Method:
1. Preparing lemongrass is simple to do. Wash the useable portion of the lemongrass (much like you would a leek)
2. Bring the water to the boil over high heat in a medium heavy-base saucepan
3. Bruise the lemongrass stalks to release the oils and place into the boiling water
4. Simmer covered for approximately 30 minutes
5. Strain the stalks from the liquid into a large jug. Discard solids. Then squeeze the juice of one lemon into the lemongrass brew. Sweeten to taste with honey
6. Serve immediately hot with slices of lemon and mint leaves, or chill in the fridge and pour over ice

Cook's notes:
* For a warmer, spicier brew, grind or grate a 5 cm piece of ginger root and add to the tea at the same time as the lemongrass

Lemongrass is steeped in local tradition, and can be found brewed in tea in tropical spas before and after a treatment. As well as having memory-inducing powers, lemongrass is believed to have benefits for general health and well-being without containing tea leaves! After steeping the thick young stalks in simmering water, this brew will have the perfect balance of fragrance and sweetness as well as providing a beautiful citrus aroma to fill your house.

Benefits of lemongrass and lemon tea

• Wonderful for sore throats or if you are fighting a cold or the flu

• Can relieve nasal congestion

• Soothing on the stomach

Recipe Credit: Ibu Mina
Mina shared with me that lemongrass is often used by Indonesian women to bathe in, particularly after a massage or if they are feeling tired. Lemongrass oil is extracted by the process of steam instillation and is a soothing aromatherapy experience and can relieve tension headaches.

***Lemongrass is safe for use in moderation, but pregnant women should check with their healthcare provider before consuming, as the brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs.

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Words: Liz McClean Photography: a journey bespoke