Ginger Spice And It's Uses.

Ginger Facts

What you always wanted to know about ginger.

• The word ginger comes from the Latin zingiber which in turn is from singabera in the ancient Indian Sanskrit meaning antlers (which dried ginger roots resemble).


• Botanical Name: Zingiber officinale, belonging to the same family as turmeric and cardamom. Its current name comes from the Middle English gingivere, but ginger dates back over 3,000 years to the Sanskrit srngaveram meaning "horn root" with reference to its appearance. In Greek it was ziggiberis, and in Latin, zinziberi.


• Ginger was cultivated in China up to 5000 years ago and has been important in Chinese Medicine for many centuries. It is mentioned in the writings of Confucius and also named in the Koran, the sacred book of the Moslems, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D.


• Ginger was one of the earliest spices known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.


• Although it was well-known to the ancient Romans, ginger nearly disappeared in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. Thanks to Marco Polo's trip to the Far East, ginger came back into favour in Europe, becoming not only a much-coveted spice, but also a very expensive one.


• During the Middle Ages, ginger was valued on par with black pepper. A pound of either was worth the price of one sheep.


• Henry VIII was a ginger addict and was convinced that ginger can be used to fight plague.

Ginger - Selecting, Using and Storing

Fresh Ginger

When fresh ginger just won't do....

Try these alternatives to fresh ginger

Dried Ginger

Dried ginger is usually found in whole fingers and also in slices. It is usually soaked before using.

• Dried ginger should be kept in a cool, dark space in an airtight container.

Pickled Ginger

Pickled ginger has the root sliced paper-thin and pickled in a vinegar solution.

• This pickle is known in Japan as gari , which often accompanies sushi, and is served to refresh the palate between courses.



• Pickled ginger should be stored in its original container in the refrigerator.

Preserved Ginger

Preserved ginger is produced by boiling the rhizome in sugar syrup.

• It is generally used as a confection or added to desserts, and it is especially good with melons



• Preserved ginger should be stored in its original container in the refrigerator.

Crystallized Ginger

Crystallised ginger (Also known as candied ginger), so popular at Christmas, is preserved ginger which has been dried and coated with sugar.

• It is commonly used in desserts and can easily be made at home.



• Crystallized ginger can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to three months.

Ground Ginger

Also referred to as powdered ginger, this dried, ground form is quite different than fresh.

• It is readily available in standard supermarkets, and is used primarily in sweets and curry mixes.



• Dried ginger powder should be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dark and dry place.

Where is it grown commercially?

Decorate Your Room With Ginger Art From Art.com

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What does the plant look like?

The ginger plant looks similar to tall grass; its shoots grow up to 1 m in height and arise annually from buds on the rhizome.

The flowering heads are cone-shaped and composed of a series of yellowish leaf-like bracts. Protruding just beyond the outer edge of the bracts, the flowers are pale yellow in colour with a purplish lip.

Try Growing a Ginger Plant at Home in a Container

• Take a piece of ginger root, when selecting ginger for growing, choose a smooth, shiny root which has a few little buds buds, and plant it directly into a pot filled with a rich potting mixture.



• Cover the pot with a plastic bag, sealed with an elastic band and place it on a sunny windowsill.



• When the first shoots appear, remove the plastic bag.



• After a few weeks you can transplant your ginger into a bigger pot and place the pot in a location where it will get indirect sunlight. Water it regularly, but be sure not to let the soil become saturated.



• Ginger does not like frost so if you plan to have the plant on your patio wait until the frosts have passed and the weather has warmed up.



• You will need to bring your plant in over the winter and just leave it alone. The foiliage will die back but the plant will come back to life in the spring.



• If you want to harvest your ginger it is best done in the autumn

Ginger - Its' Medicinal Uses

Ginger is much more than a spice to liven up your food

• Ginger root is a medicinal herb used primarily for the treatment of Dyspepsia (discomfort after eating), which includes the symptoms of bloating, heartburn, flatulence, and nausea. It is also believed to work as an antibiotic agent and a strong antioxidant.


• It is credited with the ability to treat fevers, headaches, and toothaches. It may have the ability to lower blood cholesterol and aid in preventing internal blood clots.


• Arthritis-related problems with your aging knees? Regularly spicing up your meals with fresh ginger may help!


• Ginger contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis experience reductions in their pain levels and improvements in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly.


• Ginger's anti-vomiting action has been shown to be very useful in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Unlike antivomiting drugs, which can cause severe birth defects, ginger is extremely safe, and only a small dose is required.


• Ginger tea has a spicy, invigorating taste. It's used as a home remedy for indigestion, nausea, and to ward off colds, flu, and sore throats.
  
  Other benefits of ginger tea include:
  
  
  • Improves circulation and blood flowEases stomach cramps
  
  
  • Reduces menstrual cramping
  
  
  • Helps regulate blood sugar
  
  
  • Boosts the immune system

Ginger Tea Recipe

Superstitions

In the early 1900s, ginger was the source of superstitions....

• Growing a ginger plant in the house by placing gingerroot in water, for example, was said to attract health and prosperity.



• Another myth suggested that ginger's warming effects be used to "warm up the heart": in other words, that ginger would make the people who eat it feel warmer and consequently more loving toward their neighbours.



• In order to 'gee up' a lazy horse, it is the time honoured practice of Sussex farmers to apply a pinch of ginger to the animal's backside.