LEMON GRASS-PROCESSING

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 INTRODUCTION

Scientific Name : Cymbopogon

citrates / Cymbopogon flexuosus
Family: Graminae (Poaceae) and the
genus Cymbopogon
Common name: Lemongrass
Origin : South Asia, South-east Asia,
Australia
 INTRODUCTION

❖ Lemongrass is a generally fast growing tropical and sub tropical grass .The

name of the lemongrass derives from lemon like fragrance of the oil present

in shoot of the plant.

❖ Lemongrass has numerous therapeutic and medicinal uses and widely used

as herbs in many countries. This plant is full of citrus flavor and can be

dried, powdered or used fresh.

❖ Lemongrass whole plant or essential oil is commonly used in herbal teas,

infusions, soups, fish, and seafood and curry preparation.

 WORLDWIDE PRODUCTION OF LEMONGRASS

❖ Lemongrass is a popular crop in

countries like China, India, Sri-
Lanka, Guatemala, Madagascar and
Zambia. Trends in imports and
exports reflect India to be a largest
producer of lemongrass worldwide
and exports 80% of its total
production. Trends also show US as
the largest importer of essential oil
as per 2008 JEA market brief of
essential oil.
 SPECIES AND VARIETIES

❖ Cymbopogon flexuosus : This verity is commonly known as East Indian,

Cochin or Malabar grass based on the colour of the stem this lemongrass
Varity is sub grouped into two groups:

➢ C. flexuosus var. flexuosus : It is red grass and has reddish or purple in

colour stem and leaf sheath. This variety is superior in quality as its
essential oil has more than75-80% citral compound.

➢ C. flexuosus var. albescens: This lemongrass Varity is white and has

white colour of the stem.this plant is inferior in quality as it shows poor
alcohol solubility The essential oil obtained from it contains less than 65-
70% citral compound.
 SPECIES AND VARIETIES

❖ Cymbopogon citratus : This verity is commonly known as West Indian or

American lemongrass. It is a stem less Varity. The essential oil obtained
from it contains 74-76% citral and gives poor alcohol solubility.

❖ Cymbopogon pendulus : This verity of lemongrass is commonly known as

Jammu lemongrass and is white stemmed and dwarf . The essential oil of
this lemongrass contains around 75-80% citral and gives medium solubility
in alcohol.
 CULTIVATION

❖ Climate : Lemongrass grows in tropical and sub tropical environments

having sunny, warm, humid conditions. Additional irrigation is alternative for
growth of lemongrass in environments where rainfall is scanty. 25-30°C
temperature during daytime is considered ideal for maximum production of
lemongrass essential oil, with very less extreme lower night temperature.

❖ Soil: Lemongrass grows on various soil types ranging from loam to laterite
soil. Calcareous and water-logged soils are not considered good for
cultivation of lemongrass varieties. Good drainage is one of the most
essential components for lemongrass cultivation.
CULTIVATION
 CULTIVATION

❖ Propagation: Propagation of lemongrass takes place from seeds. Seeds

are generally mixed with dry sand in the ratio of 1:3 and later sown in the
field. Alternative to this method, seedlings first can be raised in a controlled
environment of nursery in one-tenth of the area of the main field and than
transplanted in field after 45 days.
❖ Nursery raising: The seeds are uniformly distributed over the beds and
thin layer of soil are spread over seeds, for raising healthy seedlings bed
has to be irrigated timely.
❖ Transplanting: The best season for transplanting seedlings is monsoon
season. Seedlings raised in nursery beds are transplanted in the field at 6-7
leaf stage when they are 50-70 days old.
 CULTIVATION

❖ Irrigation: Proper irrigation is essential for cultivation of lemongrass in

situation of drought, the crop should be irrigated timely on alternate days for
approximately a month after plantation of seedlings.
❖ Harvesting of the herb: Sickles are used for cutting grass once the
harvesting time approaches. Crop is ideally cut 10 cm above the ground
level. Total numbers of harvests in a year depends on the climate conditions
of the area.
❖ Seed collection: The whole inflorescence is cut and dried in the sun and
seeds are collected by thrashing against the floor or beating with sticks.
After six months seeds lose viability thus fresh seeds are recommended for
plantation.
PHYSIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS
LEMON GRASS PROCESSING
 LEMON GRASS PROCESSING

❑ Drying:
➢ The crop is cut in small pieces and filled into the stills.

➢ Prior to distillation process grass is set to wilt for 24 hours , wilting process
improves the overall yield of essential oils.

➢ Drying of crop also decreases moisture content by 30% which further helps
in distillation process.

➢ For some products like herbal tea or infusions where the dry leaves or
powdered lemongrass is final product, dried and powdered lemongrass
packaging takes place after drying step in appropriate packaging material.
 LEMON GRASS PROCESSING

❑ Grinding:

➢ Pulverizer machines are used to grind dry lemongrass into smooth fine
powder or coarse material as per the requirement.

➢ Dry lemongrass crop enter the grinding chamber though the feed inlet and
then grinded by the high speed rotating tool.

❑ Distillation:

➢ Lemongrass essential oil is collected by steam distillation. There are

commonly three types of distillation : Hydro distillation, Hydro and Steam
distillation and Steam distillation
 LEMON GRASS PROCESSING

➢ Hydro distillation: This method is most suitable for dried plant material
where less possibility of plant damage from boiling water exist. The dried
lemongrass to be distilled is kept in a vessel half filled with water. The
vessel is then heated by direct fire, steam jacket, or closed steam coil, etc.

➢ Hydro and Steam distillation: This method is suitable for both fresh and
dried crop .in this method steam kept at low pressure which maintains lower
temperature in comparison to other methods of distillation process. In this
method, the plant material is in contact with steam not boiling water. Steam
used in this method is always fully saturated, wet and never superheated.
 LEMON GRASS PROCESSING

❑ Steam distillation:

➢ In this method saturated or superheated steam is incorporated through

open or perforated steam coils. The two separate layers form in this process
having one layer of oil another layer of water. The increase the self life of
essential oil, following points should be taken into consideration:

1. Pre- treatment of essential oil to eliminate metallic impurities.

2. Clarification of essential oil by NaCl .

3. Oil should be stored in hard or dark colored glass bottles, while large
quantities should be stored in heavily tinned metal containers.

4. The oil should be stored at a dark places.

 LEMON GRASS PROCESSING

❑ Purification of oil (Filtration ) :

➢ Anhydrous sodium sulphate is mixed with oil and generally kept for 4-5
hours or overnight than the mixture is flittered to eliminate insoluble
component present in the essential oil. Steam rectification process should
be incorporated in purification step where due to rusting colour of the oil
changes.

❑ Spent grass

➢ The remaining residue obtained after extraction of the oil is called spent
grass. It can be used for cattle feed or manuring crops.
 EQUIPMENT FOR LEMON GRASS OIL PROCESSING

❖ WEIGHING MACHINE: For getting

good quality of product, all the
ingredients should be properly
weighed with the help of digital
weighing machine.
 EQUIPMENT FOR LEMON GRASS OIL PROCESSING

❖ GRINDING MACHINE: Pulverizer

machines are used to grind dry
lemongrass into smooth fine powder
or coarse material as per the
requirement. Dry lemongrass crop
enter the grinding chamber though
the feed inlet and then grinded by the
high speed rotating tool.
 EQUIPMENT FOR LEMON GRASS OIL PROCESSING

❖ SIEVE : It used for sieving powder so

that only fine powder can be utilized for
manufacturing purpose. Without sieving
coarse powder will be mixed up.

❖ DISTILLATION UNIT: Steam distillation

unit is used to extract essential oil from
lemongrass. This equipment uses
indirect heat to extract lemongrass oil
from fresh or dry lemongrass plant.
 EQUIPMENT FOR LEMON GRASS OIL PROCESSING

❖ FOOD GRADE CONVEYOR: These

are conveyors with food grade belt
to maintain food safety standards set
by monitoring authorities.

• HPLC AND GLC SYSTEMS: Quality

of the essential oil is may be
evaluated by HPLC and GLC
systems, these highly sophisticated
chromatographic equipments helps
to quantify chemical and bioactive
components of the oil.
 EQUIPMENT FOR LEMON GRASS OIL PROCESSING

❖ OTHER MATERIAL AND HYGIENE

EQUIPMENT : They are simply used to
hold and transfer the given material
efficiently.

❖ POWER DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENTS:

They are used to safely receive and
distribute power.
 USES OF LEMONGRASS IN FOOD PROCESSING

❖ Herbal teas : Dried lemongrass leaves are

widely used as a lemon flavour ingredient in
herbal teas, prepared either by decoction or
infusion of 2-3 leaves in 250 or 500 ml of
water. Lemongrass iced tea is prepared by
steeping several stalks in a few quarts of
boiling water. This can also be combined
with green or black teas.
 USES OF LEMONGRASS IN FOOD PROCESSING

❖ Health food : Lemongrass is commonly used in Asian cooking. In Thailand

and Indonesia, freshly ground lemongrass is added to spice pastes. The
Vietnamese like to prepare their food at the dinner table, mixing meat with
fresh herbs, and lemongrass is an essential herb at the table

❖ Uses of essential oil : Lemongrass is cultivated for its oil which is used in
culinary flavouring. It is used in most major categories of food including
alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy baked
foods, gelatins and puddings, meat and meat product and fat and oils.
 National Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship and
Management
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Plot No. 97, Sector-56, HSIIDC, Industrial Estate, Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana-
131028

Website: http:www.niftem.ac.in
Email: [email protected]
Call: 0130-2281089

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