Galangal is the root of a plant similar in appearance and taste to ginger. It is used in Asian cuisine particularily in Thai food and has a distinctive hot aromatic flavour with a hint of citrus. Mixed with lime juice it is often taken as a tonic and regarded as an aphrodisiac.
It's an aromatic root similar to ginger, only tougher and spicier
(aka galanga or galagal or galanga root)
it is usually refrigerated in the produce section of specialty grocery stores (ginger is typically not refrigerated)
HTH
:Deb