Popularity of Bhutan Natural's Lemongrass Oil

Bhutan Natural began to import Lemongrass oil from Bhutan in 2016. “We have since established ourselves as a reliable supplier of Bhutan Lemongrass oil and seen a steady increase of recurring local customers and overseas inquiries,” Clive revealed.

Distinguishing properties of Bhutanese lemongrass

Mainly found growing wild in the Mongar and Trashigang districts of eastern Bhutan, the Bhutanese version of lemongrass oil has a distinctively relaxing sweet scent which lingers.

While the commercial type of lemongrass oil produced in Thailand and Vietnam are  known as the Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus) or the West Indian Lemongrass, the variety found in Bhutan are known as the East Indian Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus).

Bhutan's lemongrass oil production was initiated by the Aromatic Phytochemicals Section of the Tashi Commerical Corporation in 1983. Back then, it was processed by steam distillation using a low-cost cottage type of distillery. Currently, lemongrass oil is distilled at a large unit in Kurizampa. 

Benefits of lemongrass

Lemongrass oil contains the active chemical constituents of geraniol and citronellol that repel insects such as mosquitos and houseflies. The oil can also be used as an antiseptic or pain balm.

In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the oil is used for relieving stomach pain, headaches, cold and rheumatism while for Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as a remedy for fever and for relaxation.

Lemongrass oil can be combined with a few drops of lavender oil to ease insomnia and to soothe indigestion, mix it with mandarin oil and massage the mixture on the abdomen.

Creative uses of lemongrass oil in Singapore

According to Clive who oversees the day to day operation and research and development for Bhutan Natural, customers can be very creative and broad with their applications for the Bhutan Lemongrass oil.  

“In Singapore, we have taxi drivers using it as a fragrance to ease their driving tension and to improve the experiences of passengers. We also have parents using it as a natural insect repellent for their children during seasons where mosquitos are thriving and for their outdoor activities as it is Deet free,” said Clive.

Moreover, some retail owners and property agents in Singapore even used it as a form of aromatherapy to create a soothing environment for their customers.
Popularity of Bhutan Natural’s lemongrass oil

Bhutan Natural began to import Lemongrass oil from Bhutan in 2016. “We have since established ourselves as a reliable supplier of Bhutan Lemongrass oil and seen a steady increase of recurring local customers and overseas inquiries,” Clive revealed.  

“When we hit the grounds on the road shows, we try to forge a bond with our customers by sharing Bhutan's achievements in being a carbon negative country and its holistic pursuit of Gross National Happiness,” Clive added.

Clive has also noticed that customers who have travelled to Bhutan before can still vividly remember the aroma years later. Moreover, there is also an increase in the number of sales of lemongrass oil to customers who have not been to Bhutan.

Buying organic lemongrass goes a long way in helping Bhutanese farmers

In 2015, Bhutan lemongrass oil received its Organic Certification, having met the requirements of the Organic Standard IMO, equivalent to the regulations of the EC and Swiss Organic Farming Ordinance.

“We hope more customers can be inspired by Bhutan's achievement and become a responsible consumer by being aware of the perils of climate change and appreciate the unwavering determination of the Bhutanese farmers in making sure that every product is natural and sustainable,” Clive explained.

Future plans for Bhutan Natural

According to Clive, Bhutan Natural will continue to focus on product innovation and customer service in the coming years. Plans for expansion into other matured markets are under consideration.   

Written by Zann Huizhen Huang for the Daily Bhutan.