Ginger
is a plant that
grows the best
in the warm
climates of
China,
India,
and Jamaica.
Commercial
Ginger is called
black or white,
according to
whether it is
peeled or
unpeeled; for
both kinds the
ripened roots
are used, after
the plant has
died down. The
black are
scalded in
boiling water,
then dried in
the sun. The
white (best) are
scraped clean
and dried,
without being
scalded. Ginger
flowers have an
aromatic smell
and the bruised
stem a
characteristic
fragrance, but
the root is
considered the
most useful part
of the plant,
and must not be
used under a
year's growth.
Geographical
Sources
:
Ginger seems to
originate from
Southern China.
Today, it is
cultivated all
over tropic and
sub tropic Asia
(50% of the
world's harvest
is produced in
India), in
Brazil, Jamaica
(whence the best
quality is
exported) and
Nigeria, whose
ginger is rather
pungent, but
lacks the fine
aroma of other
provenances.
Traditional
Ethnic Uses :
Stimulant,
carminative. The
rhizome
(underground
stem) of ginger
has been used as
a spice or
flavoring agent.
In manufacturing
ginger can be
used as an
ingredient added
to soaps and
cosmetics.
Uses of Ginger
:
Fresh Ginger
is used mostly
as a spice for
cooking
various dishes
in Indian
household and
the dried
ginger is
mostly used
for medicinal
purpose by
pharmaceutical
companies.
Ginger is very
effective at
relieving the
nausea
associated
with motion
sickness and
is an
excellent
remedy for
digestive
problems.
Ginger is used
medically to
treat
flatulence and
colic.
Ginger is a
powerful
aphrodisiac
and increases
sexual
prowess.
Plant Description :
Indian Ginger is a perennial
herb which grows from
underground rhizomes. The
rhizomes are aromatic,
thick-lobed, pale yellowish,
differing in shape and size in
the different cultivated types.
Ginger grows best in tropical
and sub tropical regions with
good rainfall and hot and humid
summers.