Herb. No. 144 · Zingiberaceae
Greater galangal of Southeast Asian kitchens. A tropical ginger, a pot plant north.
Native · Southeast Asia
Native Also grown
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Galangal
Alpinia galanga
Ginger’s sharper Thai cousin — pine, camphor, and pepper in a rhizome that tom kha cannot do without.
Greater galangal is a tropical ginger whose rhizome is more camphor and less juice than Zingiber. Traditional Southeast Asian use is in soup, curry, and as a warming digestive. Culinary slices are the path. Dried powder is a paler, woodier spice. Not a temperate garden crop without a pot and a winter indoors.
Flavor
Pine, white pepper, camphor, citrus-wood. Less sweet than ginger.
Parts used
Rhizome
Helpful
- The authentic tom-kha note
- A handsome conservatory ginger
Cautions
- Tender
- Dried is a lesser galangal