Black galangal
Alpinia nigra

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family plant. It is a herb. It can be 3-4 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an aerial stem. The shoot and leaves have a scent. The leaves are large and in two rows. The flowers are white and have a scent. The fruit are capsules. They occur in clusters. They are green but turn black when ripe.

There are about 200-230 Alpinia species. They are mostly tropical and subtropical. They are mostly in Asia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp and wet areas. In southern China it grows in forests between 900-1,100 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, West Indies

How it is used for food

The rhizome is boiled with potato and made into a chutney. They are also eaten raw. The leaves are used to wrap food to provide an aroma. The young tender shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are cooked with small fish or also eaten raw. The stem piths are eaten fried. The flowers are used as a spice. The harvested food can be stored for 5-6 days.

Stems are sold in local markets. The rhizomes are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Rhizome, root, stem, leaves, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aigidon, Aihre don, Aihre kebeb, Deragong, Doyak, Gon-min, Inglong tara, Kashapro, Khui-jik, Pulei, Pullei, Shiraprou, Ta'ling, Tara, Tareng, Tharai, Thari bhillai, Tora, Torapat

Synonyms

Alpinia allughas (Retz.) Roscoe; Amomum bifidum Stokes; Amomum nigrum (Gaertn.) Raeusch.; Amomum taraca Horan.; Hellenia allughas (Retz.) Willd.; Heritiera allughas Retz.; Languas allughas (Retz.) Burkill; Languas aquatica J. Koenig; Zingiber nigrum Gaertn.;