Ginger

Description

Ginger is the dried knobby shaped root of the perennial herb Zingiber officinale. The plant grows two to three feet tall. Once the leaves of the plant die, the thick roots, about 6 inches long, are dug up. Crystallized Ginger is fresh gingerroot cooked in syrup and dried.

Did You Know?

Ginger is a warming spice said to promote sweating and relieve colds. A teaspoon of Ginger in warm water is said to guard against travel sickness. Ginger is believed to be an aid to digestion and to help stimulate the circulation. Ginger was introduced to England before 1066 and was used mainly as a baking spice. Elizabeth I had a fancy for gingerbread which her cook made into the likeness of her courtiers, the prototype for our traditional gingerbread man. During the 15th century, gingerbread became a gift of love and respect. In the 1800's, Ginger was commonly sprinkled on top of beer or ale, then stirred into the drink with a hot poker - thus the invention of ginger ale.

Origins

China and India are the principal sources of Ginger. We buy our Ginger from India.

Usage

Ginger is one of the warming spices - hence its use with melon to balance a cold food.
Morocco's intriguing spice mix, ras-el-hanout, contains a wide range of spices, amongst them dried Ginger. It is used in traditional tagines, couscous and in almond and honey desserts.
Glaze grilled chicken pieces with Ginger, honey and oil.
Sweet potatoes and carrots are delicious sprinkled with Ground Ginger.
Ginger is often used in Indian curry powders.
Add ground Ginger to fruit crumble toppings