Ginger – Zingiber Officinale

The Ginger plant is native in Asia. It grows to be about 60 cm / 2 feet. The ginger plant has lance shaped leaves and white (or yellow) flowers with purple lips.

Ginger is a good plant to grow in pots. Temperature should not go below 20°C.  Dig up the rhizomes in late summer or early fall. Many may refer to the ginger roots as “hands”. The ginger root should be pale yellow in color when it is dug up.

Ginger is used in many of recipes in Chinese and Indian cooking. Most often dried ginger is called for in recipes either whole or ground. Ground dried ginger is also used for flavoring in some cake and dessert recipes.

Ginger Tea and Easy Homemade Ginger Ale

Chop fresh ginger. You can choose if you want to peel the ginger or not.

Put the ginger in a sauce pan and add water.

Add water; for one cup of ginger you would use two cups of water.

Bring to boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 -15 minutes.

Strain the ginger water. Add honey to your liking.

Easy Homemade Ginger Ale

To make an easy homemade ginger ale just let your ginger tea cool and add sparkling water or club soda. Use equal amounts of ginger tea and sparkling water.

If you don’t like honey you can use simple syrup instead. To make simple syrup boil sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved. Use twice the amount of water as sugar.

 

 

 

Pickled Japanese ginger, called gari, is often served with sushi. From time to time raw fish will contain worms which ginger will neutralize. Ginger contains zingibain which is a parasite-killing chemical.

 

 Health Benefits

 Digestive Problems

 

Ginger has been used for many centuries to treat digestive problems in Asia. Ginger is recommended to be consumed to stimulate your appetite and get your digestive system working properly.

 Blood Circulation

Ginger helps the blood flow more freely. This is especially useful for anyone suffering from cold hands and feet. Ginger is also known to help prevent the formation of blood clogs.

Warning: Do not treat yourself with ginger if you are on blood-thinning medication before consulting with your doctor.

 

 Prevents Nausea

Ginger is well known as an anti nausea aid. The best thing about using ginger to prevent and fight back nausea is that ginger has no harmful side effects.

Drinking ginger tea has helped many ease nausea. Use a couple teaspoons chopped fresh ginger root in a cup of water and let it simmer for about ten minutes and strain. You may add sugar or whatever if you prefer sweet tea.

If you know you easily get car sick be sure to take ginger capsules about an hour before you leave. Ginger is well known to help prevent motion sickness.

For mild states of nausea it is enough to chew on candied ginger.

An old Chinese saying tells us that ginger should never be eaten late at night. This has to do with the yin yang balance.