Ginger Root and Spice

Ginger Root and Spice

The roots of the ginger plant have a twisted, gnarled appearance: "a horned object" as aptly described by the Sanskrit word from which the name "ginger" comes. The roots are of immense culinary and health value, whether used fresh or ground to a powdered spice.

Ginger Root History

Ginger is native to China and India. It appears to have been known to the Babylonians, as it is mentioned in the Talmud. Ginger is known to have been used in China as far back as 400 BC, and is still the single most important flavoring agent in their cuisine. The great traveler Marco Polo gave a glowing account of ginger cultivation in China during the 13th century. The Spanish colonists introduced it to the New World in the 16th century; Jamaica is now the largest producer of Ginger in the Western Hemisphere. In the United States, it is grown in some parts of Florida.

Ginger in Cooking

Ginger has a spicy, peppery taste and aroma, and gives a sense of warmth when consumed. Ginger is used fresh in Chinese and Indian meat and fish dishes, vegetables, beans, curries and stews. In Western cultures, it is used mostly as spice to flavor sweet preparations such as gingerbread, cookies, cakes, pies and pudding, and also to season some chicken dishes and meat stews. It is also important as a beverage flavoring; for example, ginger ale, which requires no introduction, originated in English taverns in the 19th century, where ginger powder was available for customers to sprinkle on their drinks.

Health Benefits of Ginger Root

In traditional folk medicine, ginger has been popularly used as a cure for stomach pain, indigestion, diarrhea, malaria and fever. More than half of all Chinese herbal medicines contain an extract of ginger in them. In Indian traditional medicine, it is considered to possess memory-strengthening and aphrodisiacal qualities. Modern research has established that garlic promotes production of digestive juices, stimulates circulation of blood and prevents the occurrence of motion sickness and vomiting. In older people, regular intake of ginger supplements can also provide relief from joint pain and inflammation.

References:
http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/ginger.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=72
Growing and Using Herbs and Spices by Milo Miloradovich
Botanical Medicines: The Desk Reference for Major Herbal Supplements by Dennis J McKenna, Kerry Hughes, Kenneth Jones

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