Greater Galangal is the dried rhizome of the plant Alpinia galanga. This is a perennial, robust, tillering, rhizomatous herb. A native of Indonesia, it is currently cultivated in all Southeast Asian countries, India, Bangladesh, China and Surinam. The plant requires sunny or moderately shady locations with fertile moist soil preferably sandy or clayey, rich in organic matter with good drainage. In the tropics, the plant occurs up to an altitude of 1200mtrs.

The rhizomes have many applications in traditional medicines such as for skin diseases, indigestion, colic, dysentery, enlarged spleen, respiratory diseases, mouth, and stomach cancer. Rhizomes show anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, and expectorant activities.

The young rhizome is a spice used to flavour various dishes in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and China.