Galangal facts for kids

Kaempferia galanga

Lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum)

Galangal rhizome ready to be prepared for cooking

Galangal is the name for several tropical spices that grow underground. These spices come from the rhizome (say: RYE-zohm) of certain plants. A rhizome is like a special underground stem that stores food for the plant. Galangal is closely related to ginger, but it has its own unique taste and smell.

What is Galangal?

The word galangal often refers to the spicy underground stem of different plants. These plants all belong to the Zingiberaceae family, which is the same family as ginger. There are four main types of galangal you might hear about:

• Alpinia galanga, also known as greater galangal. People also call it lengkuas or laos.
• Alpinia officinarum, which is called lesser galangal.
• Boesenbergia rotunda, also known as Chinese ginger or fingerroot.
• Kaempferia galanga, sometimes called kencur, black galangal, or sand ginger.

Each type of galangal has a slightly different flavor and is used in various ways.

How Galangal is Used

Galangal is a very important ingredient in many dishes from Southeast Asia. You can find it in traditional cooking from countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

In Cooking

• In Thai and Lao cooking, galangal is a key ingredient in famous soups like tom yum and tom kha gai. It adds a fresh, spicy, and slightly citrusy flavor.
• Khmer cooking uses galangal in special pastes called K'reung.
• In Indonesian cuisine, it's found in dishes like soto, which is a flavorful soup.
• Even some European drinks use galangal! For example, a Polish vodka called Żołądkowa Gorzka gets its flavor from galangal.

Even though galangal is related to ginger, they are not usually swapped in recipes. Each has its own special taste that makes dishes unique.

Traditional Medicine

For a long time, people have used galangal in traditional medicine. They believe it has health benefits.

• It is thought to help with digestion, making it easier for your body to break down food.
• Some people use it to help with breathing problems.
• It is also believed to ease stomach problems.

Each type of galangal is thought to have its own specific health benefits.

Where to Find Galangal

You can usually find galangal in Asian markets. It comes in a few different forms:

• Fresh: You can buy the whole fresh rhizome, which looks a bit like ginger root.
• Dried and Sliced: Sometimes it's sold in dried slices.
• Powdered: You can also find it ground into a powder, which is easy to add to recipes.

See also

In Spanish: Galangal para niños