Zedoary

zedoary Curcuma zedoaria, a perennial herb of NE India and SE Asia whose dried rhizome is yellow and provides a spice which has some resemblance to ginger. It is musky and pungent, and was used in Europe, along with its relation galangal, in medieval times. In later centuries, however, both galangal and zedoary dropped out of sight in European kitchens, although continuing to be used by apothecaries.

The rhizomes of zedoary are rich in starch, which is extracted from them in India as shoti starch. This resembles arrowroot, is sold as a powder in cans, and is used for thickening purposes.