*Ginger is the rhizome of the perennial plant Zingiber officianale of the family Zingiberaceae, widely used in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

*Ginger has a light brown to off-white colored outer skin and a pale to dark yellow interior flesh.

*Taste ranges from sweet to warm to pungent to fiery, with a fragrant aroma.

*It is used in curries, soups, stews, cookies, cakes, teas and to make ginger ale.

*This is widely used as a cooking spice in India, China, and other Asian countries.

*It is available in the following varieties –

(1) Whole raw roots – Also referred to as ‘fresh ginger’, these are the roots picked fresh from the plants and have the most flavor and aroma.

(2) Dried roots – These are the roots dried and sold with skin on or peeled.

(3) Ground – Also called ‘powdered ginger’, and is made by grinding the dried ginger roots. It has a light brown color.

(4) Pickled – This is thinly sliced ginger pickled in vinegar.

(5) Preserved – This is sliced fresh ginger cooked in sugar syrup and canned in syrup.

(6) Crystallized – This is candied ginger cooked in sugar syrup, then dried and rolled in sugar crystals.

*Buying and storage: Buy healthy looking fresh whole ginger free from bruises and slime. Clean them and store in a paper bag the refrigerator in the vegetable section where it will keep fresh for 2-3 weeks. Store dried and ground ginger in air-tight containers to preserve the flavor in the cupboard.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, fresh and dried ginger are raw.
*No, candied, pickled and preserved ginger is not raw. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Ginger is used as a very handy medicine for all minor illnesses in the Asian countries.

2. It is used as a stimulant. It cures dyspepsia, improves apetite and aids digestion.

3. Used to cure and relieve colic, diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, and flatulence.

4. Very effective against sea sickness, morning sickness, and other kinds of nausea.

5. It is also attributed with analgesic, sedative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties.

6. Relieves symptoms of cold and flu.

7. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduces the pain and inflammation from arthritis, muscle spasms and joint pains.

8. A herbal tea made from ginger relieves symptoms of bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems.

9. Moderate source of magnesium that helps in relieving fatigue, relaxing the muscles, nerves and blood vessels, thus relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine headaches, tension, soreness in muscles.

10. Low sodium and high potassium help maintain normal blood pressure and reduces the risk of hypertension.

11. Moderate source of manganese, which is an essential cofactor in many enzymatic reactions in the body, especially in the production of energy and antioxidants defences.