Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger has a slightly hot, citrus-like taste and aroma. It has been grown in tropical Asia since ancient times and its use as a flavoring actually pre-dates historical records. But ginger rhizomes have been used as much for their medicinal properties as for their ability to enhance the taste of food. For more than 5,000 years, people have valued their 'hot' and 'warming' qualities. Today the rhizomes are commonly used in Asian medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, sore throats and to improve circulation and reduce fat deposits in the arteries. Ayurvedic practitioners use ginger rhizomes as a cure for cholera, anorexia and 'inflamed liver'. Many of these traditional medicinal properties are supported by recent scientific findings.

Ginger is a perennial herb which grows from underground rhizomes that provide us with its slightly hot, citrus-like taste, and wonderful aroma.

The rhizome has thick lobes colored from tan to white. A highly valued variety, especially for medicinal uses, it has a blue ring circling the fleshy inside of the rhizome. The plant itself has leaves that resemble bamboo and grows up to four feet tall on dark, slim stems. The flower is a pale yellow to green color with soft purple streaks and yields the most fascinating aroma.

There are many theories on where Ginger originated, the most popular being that it was first found in Southeast Asia. The Swedish botanist Linnaeus gave it the officinal name of "Zingiber officinale." Zingiber comes from Sanskrit for "singabera" meaning "shaped like a horn."

Ginger is one of 1,400 species of the Zingiberaceae family, which include spices such as Turmeric and Cardamon. The value of Ginger is written about in early literature of ancient Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Ginger growers were considered prosperous by virtue of their crop and ownership of trade routes was highly coveted. In the Koran, Ginger is regarded as a spiritual and heavenly herb from which to make a beverage. The cultivation of Ginger is written about in the journals of Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama.

By the Middle Ages, Ginger had found its way into England where a pound of the spice was equal to the value of one sheep. For a long time, it was only afforded by the wealthy class. The Spanish, who were notable explorers, were responsible for taking Ginger to other countries and for introducing it into the New World.