Lesser galangal
Encyclopedia
Alpinia officinarum, known as lesser galangal, is a plant in the ginger family
, cultivated in Southeast Asia
. It originated in China, where its name ultimately derives. It can grow several feet high, with long leaves and reddish-white flowers. The rhizomes, known as galangal
, are valued for their spicy flavor and aromatic scent. These are used throughout Asia in curries and perfumes, and were previously used widely in Europe. They are also used an an herbal remedy.
The spice used in South Eastern Asia which often goes by the name of "Lesser Galangal" is actually Kaempferia galanga
.
is named for Prospero Alpini
, a 17th-century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants. The word "galangal" comes from the Arabic form of a Chinese word for ginger, "Liang-tiang". In Manipuri
the plant is called "Pullei-manbi".
can grow up to ten feet in height, though three to five feet is more common. The leaves are lanceolate (long and thin), and the flowers are white with streaks of red, growing from a spike at the top. The plant's rhizome
s, known as galangal
, are thin and tough, and they are the principal reason the plant is cultivated. They have orange flesh inside, with a brow coating, and have an aromatic odor and a pungent flavor. These are smaller than greater galangal.
In Asia the rhizomes are ground to powder for use in curries, drinks, and jellies. In India
the essence is used in perfumes, and Tartars prepare a kind of tea that contains it.
Alpinia officinarum contains high concentrations of the flavonol galangin
, which has been shown to slow the increase and growth of breast tumor
cells. Historically, the rhizomes were reputed to have stimulant and digestive effects.
, growing mainly on the southeast coast, and grows in Hainan
and Thailand
. It is also cultivated in India which is the second largest exporter of the galangal
rhizome. Hong Kong is the commercial center for the sale and distribution of the lesser galangal.
, an almost stemless plant that develops its few short-lived leaves and the flower at ground level. (The stem of A. officinarum, by contrast, is several feet high.) Cyperus longus is also known as "galingal", and has similar uses. Its rhizomes are spicy and starchy, used in cooking.
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae, or the Ginger family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes, comprising ca. 52 genera and more than 1300 species, distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas.Many species are important...
, cultivated in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It originated in China, where its name ultimately derives. It can grow several feet high, with long leaves and reddish-white flowers. The rhizomes, known as galangal
Galangal
Galangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
, are valued for their spicy flavor and aromatic scent. These are used throughout Asia in curries and perfumes, and were previously used widely in Europe. They are also used an an herbal remedy.
The spice used in South Eastern Asia which often goes by the name of "Lesser Galangal" is actually Kaempferia galanga
Kaempferia galanga
Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cutcherry or resurrection lily, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family. It is found primarily in open areas in Indonesia, southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout...
.
Etymology
The genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
is named for Prospero Alpini
Prospero Alpini
Prospero Alpini , was a Venetian physician and botanist....
, a 17th-century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants. The word "galangal" comes from the Arabic form of a Chinese word for ginger, "Liang-tiang". In Manipuri
Manipuri
Manipuri is the synonym of Meetei or Meitei. Meetei is an endonym and Manipuri is an exonym.It may refer to:* Manipur, a state in northeastern India* Manipuri language, a Tibeto-Burman language also known as the Meeteilon...
the plant is called "Pullei-manbi".
Description
This herbaceous plantHerbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
can grow up to ten feet in height, though three to five feet is more common. The leaves are lanceolate (long and thin), and the flowers are white with streaks of red, growing from a spike at the top. The plant's rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s, known as galangal
Galangal
Galangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
, are thin and tough, and they are the principal reason the plant is cultivated. They have orange flesh inside, with a brow coating, and have an aromatic odor and a pungent flavor. These are smaller than greater galangal.
Uses
The galagal rhizomes were widely used in ancient and medieval Europe, reputed to smell of roses and taste of spice. Its use in Europe has dramatically declined, however, and is now only used in Eastern Europe. It is used in Russia for flavoring vinegar and the liqueur Nastoika. It is still used as a spice and medicine in Lithuania and Estonia.In Asia the rhizomes are ground to powder for use in curries, drinks, and jellies. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
the essence is used in perfumes, and Tartars prepare a kind of tea that contains it.
Alpinia officinarum contains high concentrations of the flavonol galangin
Galangin
Galangin is a flavonol found in high concentrations in Alpinia officinarum . It is also found in the galangal rhizome and in propolis. Galangin has been shown to slow the increase and growth of breast tumor cells in vitro.-External links:*...
, which has been shown to slow the increase and growth of breast tumor
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
cells. Historically, the rhizomes were reputed to have stimulant and digestive effects.
Distribution
Lesser galangal is native to ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, growing mainly on the southeast coast, and grows in Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It is also cultivated in India which is the second largest exporter of the galangal
Galangal
Galangal is a rhizome of plants of the genus Alpinia or Kaempferia in the ginger family Zingiberaceae, with culinary and medicinal uses originated from Indonesia...
rhizome. Hong Kong is the commercial center for the sale and distribution of the lesser galangal.
Other species
The term "lesser galangal" properly refers to Alpinia officinarum. In common usage, however, the term is also applied to Kaempferia galangaKaempferia galanga
Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, cutcherry or resurrection lily, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family. It is found primarily in open areas in Indonesia, southern China, Taiwan, Cambodia and India, but is also widely cultivated throughout...
, an almost stemless plant that develops its few short-lived leaves and the flower at ground level. (The stem of A. officinarum, by contrast, is several feet high.) Cyperus longus is also known as "galingal", and has similar uses. Its rhizomes are spicy and starchy, used in cooking.