GINGER
Indian Name : Adrak
Ginger is one of the most traded spice globally. Ginger derive its name from Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means “with a body like a horn”. The spice is used extensively for culinary and medicinal application. Though often thought of as the root of the plant, but actually ginger is the rhizome of the zingiber officinale plant. The spice was initially found in China, but later the production extended to other Asian countries including India.
Ginger consist of three parts:
Rhizomes
Rhizome is knobbly and fleshy that is covered in rings. This part is used in food and medicine. Rhizomes grow underground but they are not roots but stem.
Flowers
Purple Flowers grow directly from the rhizomes and are generally 30 cm long.
Fruits
Fruits of ginger are red in color and have three chambers with number of small seeds.
FORMS OF GINGER
Ginger has peppery flavor and is slightly sweet having pungent and spicy aroma. Ginger comes in six forms which are used in different cuisines.
Fresh Ginger : Fresh ginger comes in young and mature forms. Young ginger has mild flavor and has a pale, thin skin that requires no peeling. The skin of mature ginger on the other hand is tough which requires peeling to get to the fibrous flesh. It is either chopped or grated before use.
Dried Ginger : Dried ginger is available in both whole fingers and slices. Before use it is soaked in recipe liquid.
Pickled Ginger : This type of ginger is usually pickled in sweet vinegar. It is colored pink or red.
Preserved Ginger : Preserved ginger is preserved in a sugar-salt mixture. It is used both in confection and desserts.
Crystallized Ginger : This type of ginger is first cooked in a sugar syrup and then sugar coated to obtain candied ginger.
Ground Ginger : Ground ginger is basically powdered ginger that are used in various recepies.
Dried ginger is extensively used for as a condiment and for food flavoring including pies, puddings, cookies, biscuits. It is also used for beverage flavoring including tea, ginger ale and ginger beer.
Ginger is also said to posses certain medicinal properties which are as follows:
- It aids in digestion and cure digestion related problems
- It is helpful in diarrhea and stomach cramping.
- Ginger is effective against nausea related to both motion sickness and morning sickness
- Helps in relieving pain and reduce inflammation
- Reduces arthritis, rheumatism and muscle spasms
- Ginger also circulates the blood, removes toxins, cleanse the bowels and kidneys
- It also aids in all the skin related problems
- It is said that it also aid in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems.
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