Galangal

*Alpinia galanga*

How to know it

Similar to ginger above ground with taller reedy stems. The rhizome is paler, harder, pinker at the tips, and far more fibrous than ginger. Cutting it takes real effort.

What it does

Essential in Thai and Indonesian cooking, and not interchangeable with ginger despite looking similar. The flavour is sharper and more medicinal. Used traditionally for digestive complaints.

Safety

Safe. Very tough, so an adult should do any cutting.

Two things to do with children

Put ginger, turmeric and galangal side by side, all cut open. Three plants in one family, three different colours, three different smells. It is the clearest introduction to plant families available.

Ask children which one they think a recipe means when it says root. There is no right answer and the discussion is the point.