Tropical medicinal herbs, Balinese jamu traditions, natural anti-inflammatory spices, and daily wellness rituals come together in every dish and drink served in our Medewi kitchen. Here, lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime are not decorative garnishes they are part of Bali’s living wellness culture, woven into meals the same way local communities weave them into daily life.
After ten years of cooking by the coast, I’ve learned to read guests the way I read the weather. The surfer with tight shoulders asks for lemongrass-ginger tea. The early-morning yogi with swollen eyes reaches for kaffir lime with turmeric. The family who enjoyed a little too much arak last night quietly chooses a galangal–tamarind jamu. These three herbs serai (lemongrass), laos (galangal), and jeruk purut (kaffir lime) are the foundation of Balinese flavor and Balinese wellness. We grow them right behind the kitchen and harvest them fresh every day. Often, guests leave feeling lighter, clearer, and calmer without realizing that these plants have been quietly doing their work.
Below are eight powerful ways lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime support the body, including how we use them daily.
Eight Ways These Balinese Herbs Heal
- Lemongrass: natural anti-inflammatory, digestive calmer, mosquito repellent
- Galangal: antiviral, joint pain reliever, digestive booster
- Kaffir Lime: antioxidant-rich, detoxifying, mood-lifting
- Lemongrass Compounds (Citral & Geraniol): help reduce cholesterol and ease anxiety
- Galangin (in Galangal): strong antibacterial effect, especially against stomach bugs
- Limonene & Citronellal (Kaffir Lime): support liver detox and naturally repel insects
- Combined in Base Genep: the Balinese mother spice paste that multiplies nutrient absorption
- Daily Micro-Dosing: small amounts in meals create cumulative long-term benefits
This is not theory in Bali it is lived practice, applied in homes, warungs, and traditional kitchens every single day.
Meet the Herbs
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
Fresh lemongrass contains citral, known to reduce inflammation markers like CRP and IL-6 by up to 30 percent. It relaxes digestive muscles, supports the nervous system, and smells like pure tropical calm. We bruise the stalks for herbal teas, infuse them into our hollandaise, and simmer them in coconut curries. One cup of lemongrass tea in the morning keeps mosquitoes away more effectively than many chemical sprays and far more pleasantly.
Galangal (Alpinia galanga)
Stronger and sharper than ginger, galangal has anchored Balinese jamu for centuries. Modern research confirms its antiviral properties, its ability to improve circulation, and its support for healthy digestion. Surfers love our galangal–tamarind recovery drink, it reduces muscle inflammation quickly without the side effects of painkillers. We grate it into marinades, slice it into jamu shots, and simmer it in plant-based curries.
Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix)
Kaffir lime zest contains significantly higher essential oil content than regular lime, with limonene for liver detoxification and citronellal for mood elevation. The leaves, aromatic and deeply floral, help reduce blood pressure and promote relaxation. We use the zest in light sauces, tear the leaves into salads, and infuse the rind into iced herbal teas. Guests often describe a “clear-headed feeling” within minutes.
Why Combining All Three Works Better
Traditional Balinese base genep a complex spice paste always includes lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime alongside turmeric, ginger, chili, shallot, and garlic. The synergy amplifies absorption: volatile oils help carry antioxidants deeper into tissues, while natural piperine improves nutrient uptake dramatically. A spoonful of base genep in a tempeh curry delivers the benefits of multiple supplements through food alone.
A Day of Healing Herbs in Medewi
7:30 a.m. — Lemongrass–ginger tea facing the sunrise
8:00 a.m. — Avo Eggs Benedict with kaffir lime–lemongrass hollandaise
10:30 a.m. — Complimentary galangal–tamarind jamu shot after surfing
1:00 p.m. — Tempeh curry with fresh base genep
4:00 p.m. — Iced kaffir lime + rosella refresher
7:00 p.m. — Grilled fish marinated with lemongrass & galangal
By the end of the day, you’ve consumed active plant compounds equivalent to several herbal supplements through delicious meals.
Why These Herbs Matter Even More When You Travel
Heat, humidity, long flights, new microbes, sun exposure, and spicy food can all stress the body. These herbs naturally counteract the effects:
- Calm inflammation
- Support digestion
- Lift mood and energy
- Strengthen immunity
- Repel insects
- Detoxify the liver
You do not need to understand plant chemistry to benefit the herbs work gently, consistently, and cumulatively.
Every morning at 6 a.m., our gardener Wayan gathers fresh lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime from the garden behind the kitchen. By 7:30 a.m., they are steaming in teapots, sliced into jamu, and folded into sauces. These plants grow just steps away from your table, fed by the same ocean breeze you feel on your skin.
This is Balinese plant medicine at its simplest and most joyful: not in capsules, but in food.
When you travel through West Bali, let these herbs guide your body back to balance. Breathe in the steam of lemongrass, taste the brightness of kaffir lime, feel the warmth of galangal, and notice how your body responds almost instantly.
Your system knows exactly what to do when given the right ingredients.
If you want to experience Balinese herbal wellness in its freshest, most delicious form, visit our oceanfront space in Medewi. Herbs are harvested steps from your table, infused into each dish, and served with the rhythms of coastal Bali. It’s a place where food becomes daily medicine gently, naturally, and beautifully.
アボカドレストラン
Jl. Widuri Simpang Tiga, Medewi, Jembrana, Bali
+62 813 3854 6264
eat@avocadoresto.com