Amomum dealbatum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It grows 1-3.5 m tall. The leaves are whitish underneath. They are oblong and 50-70 cm long by 6-14 cm wide. The flower spikes are almost round and 3-5 cm across. The flower tube is white. The fruit is a purple-green capsule that is 3 cm long by 1 cm wide. It has 9 winged ribs.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in shaded forests and hill slopes between 600-800 m above sea level in southern China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten cooked or steamed. The rhizome is peeled, burnt or boiled and eaten as a chutney.

Edible parts

Seeds - spice, flowers, root, rhizome, shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aidu, Aigia, Papia, Tingnyang

Synonyms

Cardamomum dealbatum (Roxb.) Kuntze;