Lemongrass
Lemongrass suppliers and sourcing guide
Lemongrass is the leaf and stalk of Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian) or Cymbopogon flexuosus (East Indian), tropical grasses grown in India, Guatemala, Southeast Asia and Africa. The leaves are cut and dried for tea and spice blends, milled to powder, or steam distilled for lemongrass oil, which is rich in citral. Buyers usually purchase cut-and-sifted leaf, powder or essential oil.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Cymbopogon citratus · Cymbopogon flexuosus · West Indian lemongrass · East Indian lemongrass
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of lemongrass
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Cut and sifted leaf
Dried, cut leaf for herbal tea and seasoning blends.
Powder
Milled dried leaf for spice blends and capsules.
Essential oil
Steam-distilled oil sold by citral content (often 70% to 85%).
Organic
Leaf or oil from certified organic farms, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Visual and microscopic identification of the leaf; for oil, a GC profile to confirm species.
- Volatile oil or citral
- Volatile oil content of the leaf by distillation, or citral (geranial and neral) in the oil by GC.
- Moisture and foreign matter
- Loss on drying and extraneous matter for leaf and powder.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep dried lemongrass in sealed, lined bags in a cool, dark, dry area, since light and heat drive off the volatile oil. Store the essential oil in full, tightly closed amber glass or lined metal containers, cool and away from light, because citral oxidizes. Shelf life follows the supplier's spec, with aroma and oil content checked at retest.
Lots and expiry dates
Citral and oil content vary with species, origin and harvest, so check each lot against the COA. Record the supplier lot, species, origin and retest date.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 182.20 lists lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists lemongrass oil with the technical effect 'flavoring agent or adjuvant' and cites 21 CFR 182.20.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Aromatherapy Essential Oils monograph lists lemongrass essential oil from the leaf of Cymbopogon citratus.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Lemongrass suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking lemongrass suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell lemongrass? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of lemongrass can brands buy?
Common forms include cut and sifted leaf, powder, essential oil and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for lemongrass include?
Expect identity, volatile oil or citral, moisture and foreign matter, pesticide residues, microbiology and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should lemongrass be stored?
Keep dried lemongrass in sealed, lined bags in a cool, dark, dry area, since light and heat drive off the volatile oil. Store the essential oil in full, tightly closed amber glass or lined metal containers, cool and away from light, because citral oxidizes. Shelf life follows the supplier's spec, with aroma and oil content checked at retest.
What is the regulatory status of lemongrass?
21 CFR 182.20 lists lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon flexuosus) among essential oils, oleoresins (solvent-free) and natural extractives generally recognized as safe for their intended use. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists lemongrass oil with the technical effect 'flavoring agent or adjuvant' and cites 21 CFR 182.20. Health Canada's Aromatherapy Essential Oils monograph lists lemongrass essential oil from the leaf of Cymbopogon citratus.
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