
longus), left, with maturing seeds. The top, centre, image
shows the flower heads and the top, right, image shows the
maturing seed heads. Bottom right, the edible leaves and leaf
petioles (stems) are shown..
Common Name: Galingale |
Scientific Name: Cyperus longus |
Other Names: Sweet Galingale |
Family: Cyperaceae |
Range: Britain and the Mediterranean region north to Lake Geneva. |
Physical Characteristics![]() |
Edible Parts: Roots |
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Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Wild Food guide to Galingale along with all the Galingale containing recipes presented on this site, with 28 recipes in total.
These recipes, all contain Galingale as a major wild food ingredient.
Galingale, Cyperus longus (also known as Sweet Galingale) is a monocot perennial flowering plant and member of the Cyperaceae (sedge) family. Superficially, galingale resembles a grass or rush that prefers wet ground and is closely related to the Egyptian papyrus. It is native to Britain and the Mediterranean and grows by water and in marshy places. It quickly grows to 2m in height and has large, attractive inflorescences.
The tuberous roots are edible and have an aromatic violet-like tone. They were a critical ingredient of many Medieval recipes and were used where today we would use ginger or galangal. Sweet Galingale is one of those plants that has fallen out of culinary use in Europe, though it and its close relatives are still used in Europe. If you have a damp corner in your garden then this is a plant that's well worth growing and adding to your foods.
[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1999
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–12.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants, 2004
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland, 2011
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) — How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland, 2006
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles, 1983
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles, 1987
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms, 2006
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms, 2011
[12]. Bunker, F. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland, Second Edition, 2017
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia II — A Source Book of Edible Plants, 1998
[14]. Hartford, R. Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland: A Foraging and Photographic Identification Guide
(Note that the above book links are Amazon Affiliate links)
These recipes, all contain Galingale as a major wild food ingredient.
Galingale, Cyperus longus (also known as Sweet Galingale) is a monocot perennial flowering plant and member of the Cyperaceae (sedge) family. Superficially, galingale resembles a grass or rush that prefers wet ground and is closely related to the Egyptian papyrus. It is native to Britain and the Mediterranean and grows by water and in marshy places. It quickly grows to 2m in height and has large, attractive inflorescences.
The tuberous roots are edible and have an aromatic violet-like tone. They were a critical ingredient of many Medieval recipes and were used where today we would use ginger or galangal. Sweet Galingale is one of those plants that has fallen out of culinary use in Europe, though it and its close relatives are still used in Europe. If you have a damp corner in your garden then this is a plant that's well worth growing and adding to your foods.
References:
[1]. David Evans Notes from field observations, tastings and cookery experiments.[2]. Huxley, A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1999
[3]. Tanaka, T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
[4]. Lim T.K. Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants, Vols 1–12.
[5]. Thomas, G. S. Perennial Garden Plants, 2004
[6]. Milner, E. Trees of Britain and Ireland, 2011
[7]. Rose, F. & O'Reilly, C. The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) — How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland, 2006
[8]. Streeter, D. & Garrard, I. The Wild Flowers of the British Isles, 1983
[9]. Clapham, A.R.; Tutin, T.G. & Moore, D.M. Flora of the British Isles, 1987
[10]. Phillips, R. Mushrooms, 2006
[11]. Jordan, P. & Wheeler, S. The Complete Book of Mushrooms: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Edible Mushrooms, 2011
[12]. Bunker, F. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland, Second Edition, 2017
[13]. Facciola, S. Cornucopia II — A Source Book of Edible Plants, 1998
[14]. Hartford, R. Edible and Medicinal Wild Plants of Britain and Ireland: A Foraging and Photographic Identification Guide
(Note that the above book links are Amazon Affiliate links)
The alphabetical list of all Galingale recipes on this site follows, (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 28 recipes in total:
Page 1 of 1
A Potage of Roysons (A Pudding of Raisins) Origin: England | Galyntine Origin: England | Rapey (Fig Stew) Origin: England |
Aliter Assaturas (Another Sauce for Roast Meat) Origin: Roman | Gode Powder Origin: England | Sambal Kacang (Indonesian Peanut Sauce) Origin: Indonesia |
Aliter assaturas (Roast Meats, Another Way) Origin: Roman | Hypocras Origin: France | Sauce Madame Origin: England |
Balloc Broth Origin: England | Laumproys in Galyntyne (Lampreys in Galingale Sauce) Origin: England | Sauge (Sage Sauce) Origin: England |
Chyryse Origin: England | Mortrews Blank (Meat in White Sauce) Origin: England | Sawse Madame Origin: Britain |
Clarrey (Claret) Origin: England | Ofellas Apicianas (Starters, Apician Style) Origin: Roman | Sowpes of Galentyne (Sops of Galingale) Origin: England |
Comadore (Fruit Pie Delicacies) Origin: England | Oleum Liburnicum Sic Facies (Liburnian Oil is Made Thus) Origin: Roman | Syrip for a Capon or Faysant (Sauce for Capon or Pheasant) Origin: England |
Crustardes of Flessh Origin: England | Peeres in Confyt (Pears in Confit) Origin: England | Vyne Grace Origin: England |
Flaumpens Origin: England | Pokerounce Origin: England | |
Galintine (Galantyne) Origin: England | Pur Fayte Ypocras (To Make Hippocras) Origin: England |
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