The strong, refreshing flavor of lemongrass leaves is enough reason to try it out as a flavor in green teas. But isn’t it better to know that it is good for your health also? Here are some of the health benefits that drinking lemongrass tea may bring you:

May Help Regulate Cholesterol

The cholesterol-modulating potential of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) has been studied both in humans and in preclinical models. A human pilot study (PMID 2586227) administered 140 mg/day of lemongrass essential oil to 22 hypercholesterolaemic subjects and found a meaningful reduction in serum cholesterol — notable as one of the few trials conducted in people rather than animals. At the mechanistic level, the specific polyphenols responsible have been identified: lemongrass leaves contain chlorogenic acid, isoorientin, and swertiajaponin — C-glycosylflavonoids that have been shown to directly inhibit the oxidation of human LDL in vitro.

A study isolating these compounds (PMID 19924037) demonstrated significant inhibition of LDL lipid peroxidation, while a separate study (PMID 24423518) showed the same polyphenol-rich fraction protected human umbilical vein endothelial cells from oxidative damage caused by high glucose and oxidised LDL — a key mechanism in early-stage cardiovascular disease. Green tea's catechins, particularly EGCG, reinforce this effect: a meta-analysis of 14 RCTs (PMID 21715508) found green tea consumption significantly lowered both total and LDL cholesterol in adults.

Together, lemongrass and green tea address cholesterol regulation through complementary pathways — lemongrass through direct LDL oxidation inhibition and endothelial protection, and green tea through improved lipid clearance and reduced cholesterol synthesis. As with all dietary interventions, results are most meaningful as part of a consistently healthy diet and lifestyle.

May Detoxify Your Body

A comprehensive review of C. citratus pharmacology (PMC11206715) documents lemongrass's traditional and pharmacologically validated uses including antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects — all of which support normal organ function and reduce the inflammatory burden on the liver and kidneys. Lemongrass infusions have been widely used in traditional medicine across Asia and Africa specifically for fever, urinary complaints, and digestive cleansing.

Green tea's EGCG adds a well-characterized layer of support: it activates the body's endogenous antioxidant enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase) and reduces circulating biomarkers of oxidative damage — a PMC review of tea polyphenols (PMC7283370) confirms these mechanisms are active both in vitro and in vivo. It is worth noting that no beverage performs "detoxification" in a strict medical sense — the liver and kidneys do that work continuously.

What lemongrass green tea genuinely contributes is a rich supply of antioxidants and bioactive compounds that reduce the oxidative stress load these organs operate under, helping them function more efficiently. Staying well-hydrated with an antioxidant-rich, low-calorie drink is a meaningful everyday habit that the science supports.

May Aid in Soothing Stomach Disorders

The gastroprotective properties of lemongrass are among the best-characterized of any of its traditional uses, supported by multiple experimental studies. A pharmacological investigation of C. citratus essential oil (PMC3326778 / PMID 22523457) found that oral pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil produced an 88% protective index against ethanol-induced gastric lesions and 76% against aspirin-induced ulceration in rodents — and identified endogenous prostaglandins as the primary protective mechanism, the same prostaglandin system that medical anti-ulcer drugs target.

A follow-up study (PMID 29248831) extended this, demonstrating that the essential oil and its component geraniol accelerated the healing of established gastric ulcers by 34–80%, and that citral inhibits H⁺/K⁺-ATPase (the gastric acid pump), the same target as proton pump inhibitor drugs.

Crucially, a third study (PMID 26160747) confirmed these protective effects using an essential oil-free C. citratus leaf infusion in rats — more directly analogous to drinking lemongrass tea — validating that the activity is not limited to concentrated essential oil extracts. At the molecular level, a study on lemongrass polyphenols (PMID 20438326) found that luteolin glycosides from lemongrass infusion significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide production and iNOS expression in immune cells, directly suppressing the inflammatory signalling pathway most implicated in gut inflammation. This is a well-evidenced benefit, though medical assistance remains appropriate for severe or chronic digestive conditions.

May Relieve Insomnia

At the pharmacological level, a mouse study (PMID 17561386) found that orally administered lemongrass essential oil significantly increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and showed anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus maze — a validated preclinical model. The mechanism was subsequently characterized: a controlled study (PMID 21767622) demonstrated that the anxiolytic-like effect of lemongrass essential oil is mediated via the GABA-A receptor–benzodiazepine complex — the same receptor system targeted by pharmaceutical anti-anxiety and sleep medications. However, an important human trial tempers the direct sedative claim for oral tea consumption specifically: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 50 healthy volunteers (PMID 2429120) found that oral lemongrass tea infusion produced no effect on sleep induction, sleep quality, dream recall, or anxiety scores compared to placebo.

Where robust human evidence does exist is for the aromatherapy route: a randomized clinical trial (PMC11899488) found that inhaled lemongrass essential oil significantly reduced anxiety in dental patients, and a human RCT (PMID 26366471) found brief lemongrass aroma inhalation produced perceived anxiolytic effects in volunteers under an acute stress challenge.

In short — the ritual of preparing and inhaling the aroma of a warm cup of lemongrass green tea at bedtime may genuinely promote relaxation.

May Relieve Respiratory Congestions

A comprehensive review of C. citratus bioactivity (PMC11206715) documents the plant's antibacterial and antiviral properties — relevant to the infectious origins of most coughs and colds — as well as anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce the inflammatory airway response driving congestion.

A study on lemongrass essential oil (PMC4170112) confirmed active antimicrobial effects against respiratory-associated pathogens including Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, alongside anti-inflammatory activity in both topical and oral models. On the green tea side, EGCG and other catechins have demonstrated direct antiviral properties in multiple in vitro studies, and green tea consumption is associated with improved immune readiness.

The vitamin C that lemongrass provides in meaningful quantities is backed by a meta-analysis of 31 RCTs (PMC10712193) showing consistent reductions in cold duration and symptom severity across all study populations. Drinking warm lemongrass green tea during a respiratory illness therefore provides hydration, anti-inflammatory polyphenols, antimicrobial compounds, and vitamin C simultaneously — a combination that makes physiological sense as a supportive measure, even though it is not a treatment for respiratory disease.

May Reduce Fever

Lemongrass has been called "fever grass" across many South and Southeast Asian traditional medicine systems, and this traditional classification has a growing body of mechanistic evidence behind it. A comprehensive phytopharmacology review (PMC11206715) documents antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of C. citratus extracts, including documented diaphoretic effects — inducing sweating as a mechanism for lowering body temperature — consistent with traditional Ayurvedic and African herbal medicine use. The anti-inflammatory pathway is particularly well characterized: citral, lemongrass's primary active component, inhibits iNOS expression and NO production in activated immune cells (PMID 20438326), directly targeting the inflammatory cascade that drives fever. Lemongrass essential oil has also shown anti-inflammatory activity comparable to pharmaceutical NSAIDs in controlled rodent models, with the advantage of a significantly lower gastric side effect profile (PMC4170112). The addition of ginger to lemongrass green tea is particularly relevant here — ginger's own antipyretic and anti-inflammatory compounds work through COX and LOX inhibition, mechanisms that directly modulate the prostaglandin pathway involved in fever generation.

For those looking to experience this time-tested combination, TEAME's Lemongrass Ginger Green Tea brings both botanicals together in a single convenient cup. As always, high or persistent fever warrants medical evaluation — this combination serves best as a supportive, comforting measure alongside appropriate care.

May Helps in Managing Diabetes

For lemongrass specifically, a type 2 diabetes rat model study (Clinical Phytoscience, 2020) found that C. citratus tea administered ad libitum for 4 weeks significantly improved serum glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and β-cell function in diabetic animals — comparable to metformin-treated controls — while also normalizing the lipid profile disrupted by diabetes. Citral, lemongrass's primary active compound, has been shown in a controlled rat study (PMC3113383) to produce dose-dependent reductions in body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, lower fasting plasma glucose, and a higher metabolic rate in diet-induced obese animals — all central to type 2 diabetes prevention.

On the green tea side, a systematic review of cardiovascular risk factors (PMC9871939) — covering 55 RCTs — found green tea supplementation significantly improved fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and insulin resistance in human participants, with consistent effects across subgroups. These combined findings suggest a plausible dual-ingredient benefit for blood glucose regulation, though more human trials focused specifically on lemongrass tea are needed before firm clinical claims can be made. People managing diabetes should treat this as a potentially helpful addition to a medically supervised plan, not a replacement for prescribed management.

May Help Manage Weight

Lemongrass's primary active compound, citral, has been studied directly for anti-obesity effects: a cell study (PMID 34981531) found that lemongrass essential oil and citral significantly inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, reducing lipid accumulation and downregulating SREBP2, CD36, FABP4, and perilipin — the key transcription factors and transport proteins that drive fat storage and differentiation.

A controlled dietary obesity study (PMC3113383) extended this to in vivo models, showing that citral produced dose-dependent reductions in body weight gain, improved glucose tolerance, and increased metabolic rate in diet-induced obese rats — suggesting systemic metabolic effects beyond simple fat cell inhibition.

For green tea, the evidence in humans is among the strongest available for any dietary compound: a meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (PMID 19597519) found green tea supplementation significantly reduced body weight by a mean of 1.31 kg versus placebo, and a 2023 systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 59 RCTs (British Journal of Nutrition) found green tea extract significantly lowered body mass, BMI, and body fat percentage, with the most pronounced effects in overweight and obese participants. Lemongrass green tea consumed without sugar or milk is also essentially calorie-free — making it a smart replacement for sweetened beverages throughout the day.

May Boost Immunity

The immune-supporting combination of lemongrass and green tea is well-characterized at multiple levels. Lemongrass (C. citratus) has documented antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties confirmed across a growing body of research: a comprehensive review (PMC11206715) synthesizes evidence for activity against a broad range of bacterial and fungal pathogens, plus anti-inflammatory action via cytokine modulation — including suppression of TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS-mediated nitric oxide, the primary pro-inflammatory signaling molecules.

A pharmacological study (PMC4170112) confirmed lemongrass essential oil's antifungal efficacy against clinically relevant pathogens including Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, with both in vitro and in vivo oral anti-inflammatory effects. Green tea catechins, particularly EGCG, are well-established immunomodulators: a PMC review of tea polyphenol mechanisms (PMC7283370) details how EGCG increases activity of antioxidant enzymes, inhibits inflammatory transcription factors (NF-κB, AP-1), and modulates immune cell function at the molecular level. Lemongrass also contributes meaningful vitamin C, and a review on vitamin C and immune function (PMC5707683) confirms vitamin C concentrates inside phagocytic immune cells and enhances their killing capacity — supporting front-line defenses against incoming pathogens. This combination is particularly valuable during seasonal changes, though it supports immune function as part of a balanced diet rather than preventing specific diseases.

Soothes Your Olfactory Senses

The calming effect of lemongrass when it enters the olfactory system is backed by genuine science, and the evidence here is arguably stronger than for any other benefit on this list — provided we are talking about the aromatic rather than oral pathway.

A human randomised controlled trial (PMID 26366471) exposed 40 healthy volunteers to lemongrass essential oil inhalation before an experimentally induced anxiety challenge (the Stroop Color-Word Test), and found significant perceived reductions in state anxiety, tension, and sedation scores versus both an active control aroma and distilled water.

A 2025 randomised dental anxiety trial (PMC11899488) found lemongrass aromatherapy significantly reduced anxiety in patients undergoing a stressful dental procedure, with the mechanism attributed to the same GABA-A receptor pathway that benzodiazepine medications engage — confirmed in preclinical mechanistic work (PMID 21767622). The practical relevance for a cup of lemongrass green tea is that the act of brewing and holding a warm, aromatic cup delivers a genuine, physiologically grounded aromatherapy experience through normal breathing. Green tea's L-theanine reinforces this through a separate pathway — stimulating alpha brain wave activity associated with calm focus, as confirmed in multiple human RCTs. Together, the olfactory stimulus of lemongrass and the neurochemical action of L-theanine make this one of the most credible multi-pathway stress-relief combinations available from a single cup.

TEAME Teas bring you Jasmine Lemongrass Green Tea with the added experience and benefits of jasmine in your green tea. Try it today!