View source for Galangal

[[Image:Galangal.web.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Kaempferia galanga]]

'''Galangal''', [[Malay language|Malay]] ''lengkuas'', [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin]] (Traditional: 南薑/Simplified: 南姜, also termed as: T:高良薑/S:高良姜), [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]] ''lam keong'' (藍薑, also known as '''blue ginger'''), is a [[rhizome]] with culinary and medicinal uses, best known in the west today for its appearance in Southeast Asia cuisine but also common in recipes from medieval [[Europe]]. Though it resembles [[ginger root|ginger]] in appearance, it tastes little like ginger. In its raw form, galangal has a soapy, earthy aroma and a pine-like flavor with a faint hint of citrus. It is available as a powder from vendors of Oriental [[spices]] and is also available whole, cut or powdered from vendors of [[herb]]s. A mixture of galangal and lime juice is used as a tonic in parts of Southeast Asia. It is said to have the effect of an [[aphrodisiac]], and act as a stimulant.  Galangal is also known as '''laos''' (its [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] name), '''galanggal''', and, somewhat confusingly, '''galingale''', which is the name for several unrelated plants of the ''[[Cyperus]]'' [[genus]] of [[sedge]]s, also with aromatic rhizomes. 

The word galangal, or its variant '''galanga''' is used as a common name for all members of the genus ''[[Alpinia]]'', but in common usage can refer to four plants, all in the [[Zingiberaceae]] (ginger family):

*''Alpinia galanga'' or [[greater galangal]]
*''Alpinia officinarum'' or [[lesser galangal]]
*''[[Kaempferia galanga]]'', also called '''lesser galangal''' or '''sand ginger'''
*''Boesenbergia pandurata'', also called '''Chinese ginger''' or [[fingerroot]]

''A. galanga'' is also known as '''Chewing John''', '''Little John Chew''' and galanga root.  Under these names, it is used in [[folk medicine]] and in [[voodoo]] charms  (see [[John the Conqueror]] for related lore).
[[Image:Koeh-156.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Lesser Galangal (''Alpinia officinarum'')]]

'''Galangal oil''' is also used regularly in various forms of oils for anointing. It is a component of [[Abramelin oil]], a preparation described in the [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] [[grimoire]] [[The Book of Abramelin]] and adapted by [[Aleister Crowley]] and other modern occultists and mystics.

==See also==
*[[Alpinia galanga]]
*[[Lesser galangal]]


[[Category:Zingiberaceae]]
[[Category:Spices]]
[[Category:Thai cuisine]]