Ginger is the underground rhizome, usually called root, of the ginger plant. This gnarled ginger root is the source of this wonderful spice which is widely used in cooking and herbal medicine.
I love ginger, it is one of my three favorite spices, along with garlic and chilli, and ginger has so many uses!
Ginger is the underground rhizome, usually called root, of the ginger plant. This gnarled, bumpy root is the source of this wonderful spice and it is widely used in both cooking and herbal medicine.
It takes five months after the stem is planted for the earlies harvest of ginger.
The early harvest is mainly used for ginger syrup and candied ginger and is milder in flavor because the longer the ginger stays in the ground the hotter and spicier it will become.
The spicier and hotter the ginger gets the more potent its medicinal effects will be.
Dependant on the variety the flesh of the root can be yellow, white or red in colour, and it is covered with a yellowy/brown skin that varies in thickness depending on whether it was harvested when it was young or mature.
Ginger has a peppery and slightly sweet flavour and a pungent, spicy aroma. Rather like garlic it mellows with cooking, and turns bitter if you burn it.
It can be used to flavour many things including sweets, cakes, biscuits, breads, and beverages.
Ginger is also good in sauces, and fruit dishes, and is often used heavily in Asian cooking.
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.
- Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with the invention of the gingerbread man which became a popular Christmas treat.
- In the 1800's English taverns began keeping ground ginger at the bar for patrons to sprinkle onto their beer - which led to the still widely consumed ginger beer and ginger ale drinks.
- Ginger is an excellent natural remedy for nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness and general stomach upset due to its carminative effect that helps break up and expel intestinal gas.
Making a Gingerbread House
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Nordic Ware Gingerbread Loaf Pan
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Norpro Nutmeg/Ginger Grater
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Helen's Asian Kitchen Porcelain Ginger Grater
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Ginger - Selecting, Using and Storing
Fresh Ginger
Ginger root should be kept in a cool, dry place, usually at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. After purchasing, the root may be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated for up to three weeks if it is left unpeeled.
Tip!!!
You can freeze fresh ginger!
Peel the root and cut into useable sized pieces before wrapping tightly and freezing.
Ginger frozen in this way can easily be grated for use in cooking without having that stringy mess left at the end.
Let it defrost slightly then it is easy to slice and chop.
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?
It grows best in a fertile loam as it needs large quantities of soil nutrients.
Large crops of ginger are grown in India, Jamaica (the major source of ground ginger), China, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Australia.
Decorate Your Room With Ginger Art From Art.com
Click on the image for a bigger picture...
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
Great Ginger Goodies
Watch This Short Video For Tips On How To Clean Your Ginger Root
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
- 4 cups water
- 2-inch piece of fresh ginger root
- honey and lemon slice - optional
Peel the ginger root and slice it into thin slices. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan. Once it is boiling, add the ginger. Cover it and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain the tea. Add honey and lemon to taste.
Read more about the medicinal uses of Ginger
Just A Spoonful of Ginger
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Part cookbook, part primer of Chinese medicine, Nina Simonds's A Spoonful of Ginger offers dietary advice, herbal home remedies, and lively, unintimidating Asian recipes for the home cook.
It is packed full of recipes meant to relieve everything from hangovers to high blood pressure, with the last three chapters devoted specifically to 'food as medicine'.
Stir Fried Ginger Chicken
Thai Food Recipe: Stir Fried Ginger Chicken!
http://JoysThaiFood.com/order/ Stir fried (stirfry) Ginger Chicken recipe. This is one of our favorite Thai chicken stir fry recipes. We have many other recipes at our main site: http://www.joysthaifood.com. Visit and say hi with a comment!
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curated content from YouTube
Some of my favourite links to recipes using ginger...
Take a look at the recipes and vote for your favourites... you can even add your own favourite to the list.
Healthy Ginger Recipes and Cooking Tips - Eating Well
Dishes seasoned with ginger are simply irresistible. Whether in its peppery fresh form or as spicy ground powder, this root of the ginger plant may ha...0 points
Ginger prawn oriental broth
This seafood broth makes the ideal starter to a Chinese-themed meal0 points
Sea bass with sizzled ginger, chilli & spring onions
The aromas released while cooking this dish will have everyone licking their lips in anticipation0 points
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.
Here's my favorite link:
Your Feedback Is Welcome!
I would love to receive your feedback and comments so please feel free to leave me a note here, and if you have a food or drink related lens of your own please drop by The Cooks Cafe and submit it for inclusion in the group.
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- acupuncture-boynton acupuncture-boynton Nov 30, 2009 @ 10:15 am
- nice lens!. I love ginger tea. it helps soothe your soar throat
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- Cinetech Cinetech Oct 17, 2009 @ 10:17 am
- Awesome lens, it really complements my Ginger lens. Lensrolled and rated!
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- kiwisoutback kiwisoutback Apr 13, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
- I love ginger, and your ginger beer lens. Once in a while I'll buy ginger beer, it's excellent. It's not something I would think of buying all the time, it's kind of hidden on the bottom shelf of the supermarket. Now I'll have to pick some up! Nice work.
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- newsprintream newsprintream Apr 12, 2009 @ 4:24 am
- Thanks, this was great! I'm a big ginger fan =)
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- businessblossom businessblossom Feb 12, 2009 @ 3:56 pm
- I LOVE ginger, both for the taste and its various means of assisting all the processes that go on in the abdomen . . . thanks! Another 5 stars for you!
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