Native ginger

Alpinia caerulea

spice · fruit

Rhizome tips tasting of ginger, and blue berries with tangy pulp, sucked fresh; the leaves wrap meat for cooking.

Origin

Rainforests of eastern Australia

Where to find it

Along streams in the rainforests; it is also planted in Australian gardens.

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

The berries are sucked raw, spitting out the seeds; the rhizome tips are grated like ginger.

Did you know?

Its fruits are bright blue, a rare color among plants.