Lemongrass Pandan Tea (Refreshing Lemongrass Herbal Drink)
This post may contain affiliate links.Fresh Lemongrass Tea with pandan is just one thing you need in summertime or in a garden party. It is so easy to make and surprisingly so refreshing. After a long tiring day, sipping this tea will help you unwind your day!
Lemongrass tea with pandan leaves and rock sugar is a light, refreshing herbal drink that’s especially popular in Southeast Asia. Fragrant, soothing, and naturally caffeine-free, this lemongrass tea is often enjoyed to help with digestion and to cool the body in hot, humid weather.
Simmering fresh lemongrass together with pandan leaves adds a soft, vanilla-like aroma that beautifully balances the bright citrus notes of lemongrass. A little rock sugar provides gentle sweetness without overpowering the delicate herbal flavor.
This refreshing lemongrass pandan tea can be served warm for a comforting drink, or chilled and poured over ice for a cooling herbal beverage on a hot day.
If you enjoy traditional Asian herbal drinks butterfly pea flower tea, tamarind iced tea, or turmeric ginger tea, you’ll love this simple lemongrass tea. For something creamier, you can even try a butterfly pea flower latte, while warming drinks like lemon ginger drink or red ginger drink (wedang jahe) are perfect for cooler days. You can browse even more traditional beverages in my Asian drink recipes collection.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Lemongrass and pandan leaves – Both ingredients are commonly found in Asian grocery stores. Lemongrass adds a fresh, citrusy aroma, while pandan leaves contribute a gentle, nutty, caramel-like fragrance that makes this lemongrass tea extra comforting.
Rock sugar – Rock sugar gives the tea a subtle, clean sweetness that doesn’t overpower the herbal flavors. You can substitute it with regular granulated sugar if needed, though rock sugar creates a more balanced and traditional taste.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Substitutions & Variations
Mint leaves – Add a fresh, cooling twist by crushing mint leaves and blending them into the chilled lemongrass tea. This works especially well when serving it over ice.
Ginger – For a warming variation, slice fresh ginger and simmer it together with the lemongrass and pandan. It adds gentle heat and extra depth to the tea.
Butterfly pea flowers – For a naturally vibrant blue color, add dried butterfly pea flowers while brewing. They won’t change the flavor, but they make the drink visually stunning.
Sweetener options – Rock sugar can be replaced with regular sugar, coconut sugar, or palm sugar. Keep in mind that darker sugars will add a slightly richer, caramel-like note.
Iced or sparkling version – Chill the tea completely and top it with cold sparkling water for a light, fizzy herbal drink on hot days.
How to Make Lemongrass Tea
STEP 1. Prep the herbs. Wash the lemongrass and pandan leaves. Cut the pandan into shorter pieces and lightly smash or cut the lemongrass stalks so they release more aroma. Add them to a pot with rock sugar and water (Image 1).
Substitution note: You can use regular white sugar, but rock sugar gives a gentler, cleaner sweetness.
STEP 2. Boil, then simmer. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat (Image 2). Once boiling, reduce to low heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
STEP 3. Strain and serve. Turn off the heat once the lemongrass and pandan leaves fade or darken in color (Image 3). Strain the lemongrass tea and let it cool (Image 4). Chill in the fridge, or serve right away over ice.
Pro Tips
- Wash the herbs thoroughly – Always rinse lemongrass and pandan leaves well before brewing. Pandan leaves, especially near the roots, often carry dirt and need extra attention.
- Smash the lemongrass – Lightly crush the lemongrass stalks with a pestle or the handle of a knife before simmering. This helps release more fragrance and gives the lemongrass tea a fuller flavor.
- Use dried herbs if needed – If fresh lemongrass or pandan leaves are hard to find, dried versions work well and still provide a fragrant, aromatic tea. Just note that dried herbs may produce a slightly lighter aroma.
- Choose the right sweetener – Rock sugar gives a clean, mellow sweetness that blends beautifully with lemongrass and pandan. Regular white sugar can be used, but it will taste a little sharper and less rounded.
- Avoid a rolling boil – After the tea boils, keep it at a gentle simmer. This prevents bitterness and keeps the flavor smooth and balanced.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this lemongrass tea chilled with ice cubes for a refreshing drink alongside light afternoon snacks. It pairs beautifully with sweet treats like banana fritters, Taiwanese pineapple cake, or banana cake with cream cheese, where the fragrant tea helps balance the richness.
For savory meals, this tea works especially well with Asian dishes. Enjoy it with comfort foods such as nasi goreng kampung or mie goreng, where its light, herbal flavor helps cut through the oil and spices.
Even with heartier meals like a bowl of gyudon-style beef rice or minced pork noodles, this lemongrass tea makes a great companion—refreshing, soothing, and easy on the palate.
FAQs about Lemongrass Tea
Lemongrass tea has a light, citrusy flavor with a fresh, clean aroma. When combined with pandan leaves, it becomes more fragrant with a subtle, vanilla-like note.
Yes. Dried lemongrass and dried pandan leaves work well if fresh ones are unavailable. They provide a similar aroma and flavor, though the tea may be slightly lighter and less fragrant than when made with fresh herbs.
Absolutely. You can substitute rock sugar with regular white sugar, coconut sugar, or palm sugar. Keep in mind that darker sugars will add a richer, caramel-like note to the lemongrass tea.
Yes, this herbal tea is naturally caffeine-free and gentle, making it suitable for daily enjoyment when consumed in moderation.
No. Lemongrass tea is naturally caffeine-free, making it a great option for drinking any time of day, including in the evening.
Lemongrass tea can be enjoyed both ways. Serve it warm for a soothing drink, or chill it and add ice for a refreshing iced herbal tea.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the lemongrass tea in a clean, airtight bottle or container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best aroma and flavor, it’s ideal to enjoy the tea on the day it’s brewed. That said, this tea keeps well when chilled and still tastes fresh after a few days of storage.
Lemongrass Pandan Tea
Ingredients
- 3 stalk lemongrass
- 4 pcs pandan leaves
- 100 gr sugar rock sugar
- 1500 cc water
Instructions
- Wash the lemongrass and pandan leaves. Cut the pandan into shorter pieces and lightly smash or cut the lemongrass stalks so they release more aroma. Add them to a pot with rock sugar and water.
- Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce to low heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
- Turn off the heat once the lemongrass and pandan leaves fade or darken in color. Strain the lemongrass tea and let it cool. Chill in the fridge, or serve right away over ice.
Video
Notes
- Wash the herbs thoroughly – Always rinse lemongrass and pandan leaves well before brewing. Pandan leaves, especially near the roots, often carry dirt and need extra attention.
- Smash the lemongrass – Lightly crush the lemongrass stalks with a pestle or the handle of a knife before simmering. This helps release more fragrance and gives the lemongrass tea a fuller flavor.
- Use dried herbs if needed – If fresh lemongrass or pandan leaves are hard to find, dried versions work well and still provide a fragrant, aromatic tea. Just note that dried herbs may produce a slightly lighter aroma.
- Choose the right sweetener – Rock sugar gives a clean, mellow sweetness that blends beautifully with lemongrass and pandan. Regular white sugar can be used, but it will taste a little sharper and less rounded.
- Avoid a rolling boil – After the tea boils, keep it at a gentle simmer. This prevents bitterness and keeps the flavor smooth and balanced.
My family loves this refreshing drink so much! I always make this and keep it in bottles for family and friends. Try it, you will love it, too.