Dalaa | ดาหลา | Etlingera elatior
Family: Zingiberaceae - Genus: Etlingera
The Torch Ginger can be found near the bungalows of Eco-Logic Thailand and in the restaurant area of the Food Forest Kitchen Restaurant.
The Torch Ginger, also known as ginger flower, red ginger lily, torch lily and wild ginger is a herbaceous perennial plant. It can grow up to 6 meter tall.
The beautiful white, pink or red flowers are used in decorative arrangements and are edible. When young, Torch Ginger flowers are tightly closed, forming a flame-like shape, and range in color from pink, red, to white. The buds are formed of oval and waxy, petal-like layers. As the flower blooms, the petals will open up, revealing small flower petals.
Torch Ginger flowers are used as a flavoring in Southeast Asian seafood dishes, and the entire plant, including the seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
Torch Ginger flowers bloom in June - August.
THE PLANT
Torch ginger is perennial herb that can grow up to 6meter tall.
The plant is pollinated mainly by spiderhunter birds.
The entire plant, including the seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
THE LEAVES
Leaves of the torch ginger can grow up to 85 centimeter long, flushed purple when young, leathery with a central groove.
The entire plant, including the seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
THE FLOWERS
The flowers of the torch ginger grow at end of stalk, bracts spreading, deep pink with paler margin, floral bracts smaller, pink and fleshy.
The entire plant, including the seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
THE FRUIT
After blooming, the torch ginger develops fruiting heads measuring 10x10 centimeter with each individual fruit hairy and green-red.
The entire plant, including the seeds, flowers, and leaves are edible.
CULINARY USES
The flowers of the Torch Ginger are used in Thai salads.
The stems of the flowers are chopped up and added to curries or soups with rice noodles.
Torch Ginger flowers are consumed when the buds are somewhat closed and have a crisp, succulent, and lightweight texture. The aromatic bracts also have a sweet and sour, piquant flavor with citrus-forward notes.
The flowers can be thinly sliced and tossed into salads, shredded and blended into dips and sauces, or used whole as a food wrap.
Torch Ginger flowers are also traditionally incorporated into seafood dishes, stirred into stews, soups, curries, rice, and noodle dishes, or they are chopped and mixed into vegetable salads. Beyond traditional uses, Torch Ginger flowers are being used in modern, unconventional applications to showcase the bud’s sour flavor in dishes such as sorbets and ice cream. The flowers are also being infused into cocktails, and essential oils are extracted from the buds as an ingredient for tea.
Torch Ginger flowers can also be frozen or dried for extended use.
NUTRITION
The nutritional content of the Torch Ginger: water, fiber, potassium.
Torch Ginger flowers are a good source of fiber to stimulate the digestive tract and contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to boost the immune system. The buds also provide antioxidants such as vitamin C to protect the body against external aggressors and contain some magnesium, vitamin K, and calcium.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
They are said to have medicinal value, and are very high in antioxidants, the benefits are said to be good for:
Bloodstream System
Integumentary System (Skin, Hair, Nails, etc.)
Nervous and Brain System
Bones (Skeletal System)
Excretion and Urinary System
Mouth and Teeth
Muscle System
Digestive System
Body in General
Support and increase Stamina
Help lubricate joints
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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