ALPINIA GALANGA

Alpinia galanga, or Lengkuas, is a large herbaceous plant that can grow up to 3.5 m in height. Its rhizome is a versatile ingredient used in Southeast Asian cuisine such as in lontong, rendang and spice mixes, imparting a zesty heat and complimentary note to other ingredients in recipes. The Lengkuas also produce fragrant and edible yellow-white flowers that are eaten as vegetable.

Taxonomy:

• Family : ​Zingiberaceae​

Common Names:

• Malay : Lengkuas
  
• English : Siamese Ginger

Habitat and Distribution:

Alpinia galanga is natively distributed in Southeast Asia countries.

Uses:

• Food (Herb or Spice) : The rhizome has a sharp, spicy flavor which is popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is finely blended with other spices to make a paste for dishes like laksa an curries.​
  
• Food (Fruit or Vegetable) : The flowers are young shoots are steamed and consumed as a vegetable.​
  
• Medicinal : In Peninsular Malaysia, the seeds are used in traditional medicine to treat vomiting, herpes, colic and diarrhoea. The Filipinos prepare a leaf decoction to treat rheumatism. In Java, the pounded rhizome is applied to wounds and sores.