As a spice, galangal is popular in in the traditional foods of Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, it is blended with other spices to season rendang, a spicy curry served in celebration of Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of Ramadan and a month of fasting.
Galangal has been used for centuries because of the warming effect it has on the body. It’s been used in China and India since ancient times. In approximately 800 A.D. it became popular in Europe.