galangal

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga.

   “The refreshing aroma of galangal acts in combination with and as a contrast to lemongrass in many recipes in this book.”

   “Another time, she dined in Hampstead, where she was fed a version of stargazy pie with a whole squid where the eel should have been. It was flavoured, for the full medieval effect, with galangal, which her hostess described as “kind of like frankincense”.”