
Galangal Plant (Alpinia officinarum)
Galangal is a perennial herb in the ginger family from Southeast Asia. It has 3’ long, sword-shaped leaves and pink and white flowers that bloom in summer. Galangal, similar to ginger, is grown for its flavorful underground rhizomes. The rhizomes have a sweet but pungent flavor, often described as a blend of ginger and pepper. It’s most often used in curries, stir fries, soups and other East Indian or Thai foods. It has been used medicinally to treat digestive disorders, reduce inflammation and has also been used as a stimulant. There are two types of Galangal –Lesser and Greater. We are selling the Lesser Galangal, or Alpinia officinarum. The plant and rhizomes are smaller but it has higher concentrations of flavonoids as well as sweeter, more flavorful roots.