A spice, food or a supplement?
 
This weeks food is another seasoning but can be considered a food. Something you will find refreshing, healthful and tasty!
 
This tangy flavorful herb/food/flavoring - Zingiber Officionale - isn't really a fruit or vegetable but a root, which could qualify as a very spicy vegetable and a healthy food!
 
It's a perennial herb Zingiber Officionale or commonly English name Gingerroot. In the fresh Gingerroot state, it has a characteristic staghorn-like appearance; dried ginger is usually sold in form of off-white to very light brown powder or fresh whole or pieces.  Ginger root is a rhizome or underground stem and not considered an actual root. Depending on the location it is being grown at, it is harvested nearly year-round. It is ready for harvest about five months after planting. The early harvests are used for ginger syrup and candied ginger. The later harvests are usually sold as fresh ginger. It becomes hotter and spicier, and better for homeopathic remedies, the longer it is in the ground.
 
The English botanist William Roscoe (1753-1831) gave the plant the name of Zingiber officinale in an 1807 publication. The ginger family is a tropical group especially abundant in Indo-Malaysia, consisting of more than 1200 plant species. The genus Zingiber includes about 85 species of aromatic herbs from East Asia and tropical Australia. The name of the genus, Zingiber, derives from a Sanskrit word denoting "horn-shaped," in reference to the protrusions on the rhizome. Major world producers include Fiji, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and China. American imports come from China, several Caribbean Islands, Africa, Central America, Brazil, and Australia. Ginger is now commercially cultivated in nearly every tropical and subtropical country in the world with arable land for export crops. While in Hawaii last April I was privy to see ginger growing in all it's beauty and several organic plots for personal use as well as for sale... Fresh ginger and dried ginger are considered two different commodities. In fact, one author of an early Chinese herbal felt that they were so different that they must come from two different plants! The dried root is known as Gan-jiang. The fresh root is called Sheng-jiang.
 
Ginger having been around so long that its exact origin is unclear.
 
It reached the West at least two thousand years ago, recorded as a subject of a Roman tax in the second century after being imported via the Red Sea to Alexandria. Tariff duties appear in the records of Marseilles in 1228 and in Paris by 1296. Ginger is known in England before the Norman Conquest, as it is commonly found in the 11th century Anglo-Saxon leech books. Ginger is detailed in a 13th century work, "Physicians of Myddvai," a collection of recipes and prescriptions written by a physician, Rhiwallon, and his three sons, by mandate of Rhys Gryg, prince of South Wales (who died in 1233). By the 13th and 14th centuries it was familiar to English palates, and next to pepper, was the most popular spice. A pound of ginger was then valued at the price of one sheep. Ginger, as a product of the Far East, was indelibly imprinted on the taste buds of Westerners before potatoes, tomatoes, and corn were even known to exist by Europeans.
 
Medicinal properties
 
- Ginger leaves are occasionally used for flavoring in ginger producing countries.
- Ginger and turmeric combine with citrus and maple syrup to make the perfect blend of healing nutrients.
 
Ginger has been used for centuries in treating the common cold. Additionally, it is an effective analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-viral agent. Asian cultures believe it prevents them from maladies found in most countries such as hypertension, and in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Other known benefits of ginger include its ability to cleanse the colon, reduce spasms and cramps, stimulate circulation, and aid metabolism. Many have used it to treat colitis, nausea, gas, indigestion, bowel disorders, morning sickness, motion sickness, vomiting, congestion, fever, and headaches. In spite of Westernized medicine moving in on them Asian medicine still, for the most part, uses it as a treatment for asthma, shortness of breath, water retention, earache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Homeopathic practitioners even recommend it for sexual disorders. In some cultures over the centuries it has been credited with the ability to treat arthritis, fevers, and toothaches. It is said to have the ability to prevent internal blood clots. An added benefit to Ginger is that it is a strong antioxidant and effective microbial agent for sores and wounds.
 
Ginger in protecting and soothing the digestive system increases the pH of stomach acid, reducing its acidity, thereby naturally lowers the rate of gastric secretions, and increasing digestive enzyme activity. Rather than blocking the feelings of nausea in the brain, it acts directly on the stomach and liver to reduce nausea and vomiting. Ginger tincture - root is soaked in alcohol and water - sometimes labeled as "drops" or "extracts" - are available in health and natural food stores. Recommended ten to twenty drops of ginger tincture in a little water with meals to counteract indigestion or help fight early symptoms of cold or flu.
 
Ginger root herb has no known harmful side effects, and is viewed as a very safe herb. However, it has been known to cause heartburn in some people. If such occurs, reduce dosage and try again or discontinue use.
 
In most American Asian restaurants shredded fresh ginger is offered as a condiment to dishes and is found to be a common flavoring in most of their dishes. Since I have not been to the orient I cannot absolutely say how it is served over there.
 
Many people like raw ginger. Sometimes people will soak ginger in water for several hours then added to the dish immediately before serving. This gives it a more fresh, spicy and pungent taste. The freshness decreases and the pungency increases when fresh ginger is cooked. Often times, ginger is ground up into a powder and used in curries and spice pastes.
 
Slices of ginger are used quite often to flavor foods that need to simmer for long periods of time. The reason ginger is good for this is because the slices release their flavor quite slowly.
 
Ginger tea can be made by cooking slices of fresh ginger in water for a few minutes. It is a spicy and healthy drink that can be enjoyed in hot tropical climates or in freezing cold climates. Below is a great tasting and healthy detoxing, pain relieving and refreshing tea!
 
Ginger Healing, Pain killing, Detoxing Tea with Turmeric
 
INGREDIENTS
 
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon powdered turmeric
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Juice of 1/2 lemon
 
1. Bring water to a boil, then add powdered herbs (1/8 teaspoon FRESH shredded ginger may be used in place of powder). Simmer for 10 ? 20 minutes.
2. Strain tea into a mug, add maple syrup or honey and lemon, stirring to combine. Drink warm.
 
Makes 1 serving.
 
Enjoy this pleasant food/herb/medicinal in all kinds of cookies, cakes, tea, drinks or as a condiment with fish or fruits. I add a small piece of fresh root to my juicer when I juice apples and carrots together for a very pleasant flavor enhancer and nutrient enrichment.
Lena