Herbal Beverages - Takhrai And Krajieb

Takhrai (Lemon Grass, Lapine)
Cymbopogon citatus Stapf
Family: GRAMINAE
Other Names: Takhrai Gang (The Central Part ) Jakrai (Tha Northern Part) Loekroei Hawwartapo (Karen-Mae Hangsorm ) Krai Pilek (The Southern Part) Huakaising (Khmer-Prachin ) Cherdkroei (Khmer-Surin)

Usage:

As foods Fresh lemon grass is used as flovoring are seasoning Ingredients for sour soups (tom yam ) and salads(yam)as well as juice. Food value The plant consists of sweet vaporized oil, and if extracted, will give the lemongrass oil which is able to stop the bacterial growth. Menthol, camphor, Vitamin A, phosphoric acid, calcium and others are main elements of the oil.

As medicine The plant is used to cure asthma, stomachache, to help discharge urine and to cure cholera. It is used as balm for massaging. The head of the plant is for curing chloasma, stomach and urinary discomfort, and gallstone as well as for improving the body’s chemical elements. Fresh leaves help reduce high- blood pressure and high fever. Roots are for curing high fever, stomachache and diarrhea whereas the plant is for diminishing stomach and chest discomfort, stimulating appetite, getting rid of broken hair-tips, curing urinary problem gallstone and improving the body’s chemical elements.

Nam Takhrai (Lemon Grass Juice):
Ingredients Takhrai, Fresh water, Sugar

Krajieb (Jamaican Sorrel, Rosella)
Scientific Name:Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.
Family: MALVACEAE
Other Names: Krajieb Priew (The Central Part ) Sompormaoh Somsgenkeng (The Norther Part ) Somtalaenkraeng Sompoo (Shan/Njiew-Maw Hongsron) Pakgenkeng, Sompordee (Isaan) Baisomma (Ranong)

Botanical features:

Trunk A small- sized bush of about 1-2 metres length and one-year life. The trunk and its branches are reddish-purple.

LeavesA leaf s stem is about 5 cm. long. There are various shapes of leaves : a curved leaf with 3 deep crests or a smooth shape, or an oval, pointed shape.

Blossoms A pink, single flower with the darker color in the center than in the outer part grows at the fork of the leaves. The stem of the flower is short. There are 8-12 petals of the pointed petals underneath the pink, single flower. The sepals are growing spreading out together to cover the seeds. With their diameters of 6 cm. the deep red sepals are easily broken.

FruitA pointed – oval – shaped fruit of about 2.5 cm. length is covered with red sepals.

Usage:

As foods Young leaves and tops are used for sour soups (kaeng som ) and tom som (sour soup without chillies).

Food value The sepals and various – shaped leaved consist of Vitamin C, citric acid and Vitamin A. The leaves consist of Vitamin A with high quantity of 12,583 IU/100 grammes of the edible part, as well as high quantity of calcium, phosphorus and others.

As medicine Tops and leaves help digestion, phlegm dissolution, relieving urinary problem, as well as improving the body’s chemical elements and being laxatives. For outer usage, put crushed tops and leaves on the pustules; clean the wounds with water boiled with tops and leaves, as well. Sepals help body refreshment, bile improvement, fever relief, cough cure, gallstone treatment, and thirsty relief. Seeds help reduce cholesterol, improve blood cells and the body’s chemical elements, destroy bile and relieve urinary problem.

Nam Krajieb (Rosella Juice):
Ingredients Dried Rosella, Sugar, powdered salt, fresh water