Organic Ginger

The juice from ginger roots is often used as a spice in Indian recipes, and is an quintessential ingredient of Chinese, Japanese and many South Asian cuisines for flavouring dishes such as seafood or goat meat and vegetarian cuisine. They can also be steeped in boiling water to make ginger tea, to which honey is often added; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added.

History and Uses

The known history of ginger dates back about 5000 years. Its native home is debated but its medicinal and spiritual uses were first documented in Southeast Asia, India and China. Like many other spices, ginger was once a costly commodity. In the 14th century, a pound of ginger cost as much as one sheep! By the middle of the 16th century, Europe was receiving more than 2000 tonnes of dried ginger a year from the East Indies. In the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off the plague and for a while it was so popular it was placed on the table like salt and pepper. In 19th century Britain, it was sprinkled in beer (the source of ginger ale) and used to “ginger” a horse (placed up the backside of horses to prance more energetically around the show ring.)

Health Benefits

Particularly helpful in the digestive system, ginger increases saliva and other digestive fluids helping to alleviate indigestion and associated problems such as bloating and flatulence. Regarded as an effective carminative (that’s science-speak for a substance which promotes the elimination of intestinal gas) and intestinal spasmolytic (a substance which relaxes and soothes the intestinal tract), ginger is thought by many to be one of nature’s greatest antidotes for general digestive distress.

Medicinal Qualities

Historically, ginger has been used to help alleviate all sorts of nausea, from motion sickness to morning sickness during pregnancy, and more recently, nausea following chemotherapy. Feeling chilled or you just can’t get the blood flowing to warm your extremities? Studies at Cornell University revealed active ingredients in ginger, called ‘gingerols’, help to prevent abnormal blood coagulation, which helps blood to flow freely and improves circulation. This also explains why in Eastern medicine ginger has been used as a libido stimulant for centuries.

Ginger is also a powerful antioxidant and its anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to help relieve joint and muscle pain and migraines.If you’re a little flushed, you’ll be pleased to know that ginger can help with related aches and pains. A nighty tonic of ginger with a splash of lemon and honey will soothe the throat and give a kick to colds and flu.

Disclaimer: This item is not grown on the North East Coast.