Galangal is a tall-growing, bushy plant in the ginger family that is
native to Indonesia and cultivated in Thailand, Malaysia and Laos. While
the fruit possesses a flavor similar to cardamom, the root of the plant
has the sharp and spicy bite of ginger but with notes of black pepper
and pine.
Galangal root is a popular culinary spice in Asia, where it is known by
several other common names. In Thailand, it is called Thai ginger. In
Malaysia, it is referred to as lengkuas and in China as blue ginger.
The powdered root is encapsulated as a dietary supplement. The root contains a
high concentration of galangin, a flavonoid specific to galangal species that is
also found in bee propolis.
