Perarattai (Alpinia galanga): names, uses, safety

Perarattai, kulanjan in Hindi, is greater galangal, a tall ginger-family herb whose hard, pink-skinned rhizome has a sharp, pine-and-citrus flavour. It is essential in Thai tom yum and tom kha soups. In South Indian Ayurveda it is used as rasna for coughs and joint pain, and Tamil homes keep dried perarattai for sore throats. Lesser galangal, chitharattai, is a smaller relative, Alpinia officinarum.

Botanical name: Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Tamil: Perarattai
Hindi: Kulanjan
Sanskrit: Kulanjana
Parts used: Rhizome, Sometimes flower
Habit: Tall leafy ginger-family herb with a tough rhizome
Last updated: 2026-10-30

How to recognise Perarattai

It is a tall, clump-forming perennial, often one and a half to two metres, with leafy stems.

The leaves are long, broad and lance-shaped, in two rows along the stem.

Greenish-white flowers with red markings grow in upright clusters at the stem tips.

The rhizome is thick and hard, with shiny, pinkish-orange skin, ringed segments and pale flesh.

Ginger has a softer, buff rhizome and a hotter, simpler flavour.

Traditional use of Perarattai

Kitchen

Sliced galangal flavours Thai tom yum, tom kha gai and curry pastes.

Thai food practice

Ayurveda

Rasna, as it is used in South India, is boiled into decoctions for coughs and joint pain, as in rasnadi preparations.

South Indian Ayurvedic practice

Folk use

Small pieces of dried rhizome are chewed for sore throats and hoarseness.

Tamil household practice

Modern notes on Perarattai

Its flavour comes from 1,8-cineole and 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, which give its sharp, camphor-like bite.

Laboratory studies report antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.

Clinical evidence is limited.

Perarattai safety

Galangal is safe in cooking amounts. Concentrated extracts should be avoided in pregnancy.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to South-east Asia.

Bees visit its flowers.

It grows in warm, humid, partly shaded places.

Related plants

Also in Zingiberaceae

Questions about Perarattai

Is galangal the same as ginger?

No. It is a relative with a harder rhizome and different flavour.

What is perarattai?

The Tamil name for greater galangal.

What is lesser galangal?

Alpinia officinarum, a smaller, stronger-tasting relative.

How is Perarattai used in Thai cooking?

Sliced into soups and curry pastes.

Is Perarattai rasna?

In South Indian practice, yes.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.