This herb, considered a vegetable in Asia, Africa, Australia and the tropical islands, is beginning to be included in the Asian recipes that are prepared in Europe. It is a very popular crop which has been grown for many years in countries like Vietnam. Today, its cultivation is intended for culinary and medicinal uses and for the production of cosmetics or essential oils, because "its smell resembles that of lemons," explains Nancy Dinh, head of sales at Thinh An Trading Co.
It is available all year round, with Vietnam having the capacity to export an average of 12 to 15 tonnes. So far, Thinh An Trading Co. has already exported this product to France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. "We are packing in 200 gram bags, although this also depends on the customers' requirements," explains Dinh. Lemongrass can be kept fresh for about 2 or 3 weeks, making it easy to export without it losing its properties.
