Lemongrass

Fibrous and extremely tough architecture, lemongrass traps its essential oils (citronellal and geraniol) at the heart of its bulbs. A knife is not enough: culinary chemistry requires the use of a mortar or the flat of a blade to bruise, crush, and fracture the stem's cells before plunging it into a hot liquid. Essential for Southeast Asian curries and broths, its woody matrix yields its spicy, lemony perfumes during prolonged infusions in fat-rich coconut milk.