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Scientific name: Zingiber officinale
Higher classification: Ginger
Rank: Species
Order: Zingiberales
Family : Zingiberaceae – Ginger Family
Genus : Zingiber Mill.
– Ginger
Species : Zingiber officinale Roscoe – garden ginger
Used part : Rhizome
What is Zingiber officinale?
ginger, (Zingiber officinale), herbaceous perennial plant of the family Zingiberaceae, probably native to southeastern Asia, or its pungent aromatic rhizome (underground stem) used as a spice, flavouring, food, and medicine.
Also called ginger root (technically a misnomer, since it’s a rhizome, which is an underground stem, and not a root) this plant is now grown throughout the world in tropical climates.
Ginger plants grow shoots 3-4 feet tall from the rhizomes, gradually spreading outwards to eventually form a dense clump if not harvested.
What does Zingiber officinale taste like?
The fresh and dried rhizomes yield an essential oil ('ginger oil') and oleoresin ('ginger extract').
Ginger oil has the aroma and flavour of the spice, but lacks pungency.
It is used for flavouring beverages, in confectionery, and in cosmetics, perfumes and pharmaceuticals.
Ginger oleoresin has the aroma, flavour and pungency of the spice itself.
It is used for flavouring beverages and for similar purposes as the ground spice.
The ginger rhizome contains 1-3% essential oils and the compound gingerol is responsible for its pungent/hot sensation.
Dried ginger is generally less spicy than fresh ginger
What are the culinary uses for Zingiber officinale ?
Ginger retains popularity in many culinary dishes and confections across many cultures.
Making its debut in Europe in the first centuary A.
D.
, giner was part of the extensive spice trade conducted by the Romans.
Ginger makes its way into a variety of dishes in various forms.
Gari, a sliced pickled ginger, is a part of sushi plates.
Powdered ginger is a popular spice in many kitchens, but alchohlic beverages, candies, breads, soups, and confections also benefit from the aromatic spice.
Young ginger rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste.
They are often pickled in vinegar or sherry as a snack or just cooked as an ingredient in many dishes.
They can also be stewed in boiling water to make ginger tea, to which honey is often added as a sweetener; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added.
Ginger is also made into candy and used as a flavoring for cookies, crackers and cake, and is the main flavor in ginger ale-- a sweet, carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage, as well as the similar, but somewhat spicier beverage ginger beer.
What are the Health benefits of Zingiber officinale?
1.
Contains gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine.
It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its purposes.
2.
Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea
It may help relieve nausea and vomiting for people undergoing certain types of surgery.
Ginger may also help chemotherapy-related nausea, but larger human studies are needed
Although ginger is considered safe, talk with your doctor before taking large amounts if you’re pregnant.
It’s recommended that pregnant women who are close to labor or who’ve had miscarriages avoid ginger.
Ginger is contraindicated with a history of vaginal bleeding and clotting disorders as well
3.
May help with weight loss
Ginger may play a role in weight loss, according to studies conducted in humans and animals.
A 2019 literature review concluded that ginger supplementation significantly reduced body weight, the waist-hip ratio, and the hip ratio in people with overweight or obesity
4.
Can help with osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health problem.
It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness.
There are some studies showing ginger to be effective at reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis, especially osteoarthritis of the knee.
5.
May drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors
This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.
In a 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12%.
6.
Can help treat chronic indigestion
Chronic indigestion is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach.
It’s believed that delayed emptying of the stomach is a major driver of indigestion.
Interestingly, ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach
7.
May significantly reduce menstrual pain
Dysmenorrhea refers to pain felt during the menstrual cycle.
One of the traditional uses of ginger is for pain relief, including menstrual pain.
Ginger appears to be very effective against menstrual pain when taken at the beginning of the menstrual period.
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