Alpinia galanga

taxobox
name = "Alpinia galanga"

---

regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Monocots
unranked_ordo = Commelinids
ordo = Zingiberales
familia = Zingiberaceae
subfamilia = Alpinioideae
tribus = Alpinieae
genus = "Alpinia"
species = "A. galanga"
binomial = "Alpinia galanga"
binomial_authority = (L.) Willd.|

"Alpinia galanga", a plant in the ginger family, is an herb used in cooking, especially in Indonesian cuisine and Thai cuisine. It is one of four plants known as galangal, and is differentiated from the others with the common name greater galangal. The galangals are also called blue ginger or Thai ginger.

"A. galanga" is called laos in Indonesian and is the most common form of galangal used in cooking. It is also known as Langkwas and galanga root.

Description

The plant grows from rhizomes in clumps of stiff stalks up to two meters in height with abundant long leaves which bears red fruit. It is native to South Asia and Indonesia. It is cultivated in Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand. "A. galanga" is the galangal used most often in cookery. The robust rhizome has a sharp, sweet taste and smells like a blend of black pepper and pine needles. The red fruit is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has a flavor similar to cardamom.

Culinary uses

The rhizome is a common ingredient in Thai soups and curries, where is used fresh in chunks or thin slices, mashed and mixed into curry paste, or dried and powdered. Indonesian rendang is usually spiced with galangal. Greater galangal is used in Russia as a flavoring for beverages, including a liqueur called "nastoika".

Medicinal uses

Under the names Chewing John, Little John to Chew, and Court Case Root it is used in African-American folk medicine and hoodoo folk magic. [ cite book
title= Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure, and Traditional Formulary
author=Catherine Yronwode
publisher=Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
date=2002
ISBN=0-9719612-0-4]

References

ee also

*Galangal
*Lesser galangal

Bibliography

* Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). "Food Plants of the World". Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-743-0
* [http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Alpi_gal.html Greater galangal]
* see Scheffer, J.J.C. & Jansen, P.C.M., 1999. Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. [Internet] Record from Proseabase. de Guzman, C.C. and Siemonsma, J.S. (Editors).
* PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. [http://www.proseanet.org] where much more information can be found.