Ginger
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| Ginger | |
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| Color plate from Köhler's Medicinal Plants. | |
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| Species: | officinale
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| Zingiber officinale | |
Ginger cultivation began in Asia and is now also grown in India, West Africa and the Caribbean.[2] It is sometimes called root ginger to distinguish it from other things that share the name ginger.
Nomenclature & taxonomy
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Etymology
The English name Ginger comes from the French gingimbre, from medieval Latin gingiber, from Greek zingiberis, from Pali siṅgivera, ultimately of Dravidian origin from Tamil inji ver (meaning root of inji).
Chemistry
The characteristic odor and flavor of ginger is caused by a mixture of zingerone, shogaols and gingerols, volatile oils that compose one to three percent of the weight of fresh ginger. In laboratory animals, the gingerols increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial properties.[3] Ginger oil has been shown to prevent skin cancer in mice[4] and a study at the University of Michigan demonstrated that gingerols can kill ovarian cancer cells.
Ginger contains up to three percent of a fragrant essential oil whose main constituents are sesquiterpenoids, with (-)-zingiberene as the main component. Smaller amounts of other sesquiterpenoids (β-sesquiphellandrene, bisabolene and farnesene) and a small monoterpenoid fraction (β-phelladrene, cineol, and citral) have also been identified.
The pungent taste of ginger is due to nonvolatile phenylpropanoid-derived compounds, particularly gingerols and shogaols, which form from gingerols when ginger is dried or cooked. Zingerone is also produced from gingerols during this process; this compound is less pungent and has a spicy-sweet aroma.[5] Ginger is also a minor chemical irritant, and because of this was used as a horse suppository by pre-World War I mounted regiments for feaguing.
Ginger has a sialagogue action, stimulating the production of saliva, which makes swallowing easier.
Use
Culinary use
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; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added. Mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from old ginger roots is extremely potent [citation needed] and is often used as a spice in Indian recipes and Chinese cuisine to flavor dishes such as seafood or goat meat and vegetarian cuisine. Ginger acts as a useful food preservative,[6] and has been proven to kill the harmful bacteria salmonella. Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of 6 to 1, although the flavors of fresh and dried ginger are somewhat different. Ginger is also made into candy.
Powdered dry ginger root is typically used as a flavoring for recipes such as gingerbread, cookies, crackers and cake, ginger ale, and ginger beer.
Fresh ginger may be peeled before being eaten. For storage, the ginger can be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated, or frozen for longer term storage.
Regional use
In India, ginger is called Aada in Bengali and Urdu, Adrak, in Gujarati, Shunti in the Kannada language of Karnataka, Allam (అల్లం) in Telugu, Inji in Tamil, enchi in Malayalam, Alay in Marathi, and Aduwa in Nepali.
Fresh ginger is one of the main spices used for making pulse and lentil curries and other vegetable preparations. It is used fresh to spice tea especially in winter. Ginger powder is also used in certain food preparations particularly for pregnant or nursing women, the most popular one being Katlu which is a mixture of gum resin, ghee, nuts, and sugar.
In South India, ginger is used in the production of a candy called Inji-murappa meaning ginger candy in Tamil. This candy is mostly sold by vendors to bus passengers in bus stops and in small tea shops as a locally produced item. Candied or crystallised ginger (ginger cured with sugar) is also common. Additionally, in Tamil Nadu, especially in the Tanjore belt, a variety of ginger which is less spicy is used when tender to make fresh pickle with the combination of lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and tender green chili peppers. This kind of pickle was generally made before the invention of refrigeration and stored for a maximum of 4–5 days. The pickle gains a mature flavor when the juices cook the ginger over the first day. Ginger is also added as a flavoring in tea. Dried ginger (sukku சுக்கு) is used in tea or coffee and also in siddha medicine.
In Bangladesh, ginger is called Aadha and is finely chopped or ground into a paste to use as a base for chicken and meat dishes alongside onion and garlic.
In Burma, ginger is called gyin. It is widely used in cooking and as a main ingredient in traditional medicines. It is also consumed as a salad dish called gyin-thot, which consists of shredded ginger preserved in oil, and a variety of nuts and seeds.
In Indonesia a beverage called Wedang Jahe is made from ginger and palm sugar. Indonesians also use ground ginger root, called jahe as a common ingredient in local recipes.
In Vietnam, the fresh leaves finely chopped can also be added to shrimp-and-yam soup (canh khoai mỡ) as a top garnish and spice to add a much subtler flavor of ginger than the chopped root.
In China, sliced or whole ginger root is often paired with savory dishes such as fish. However, candied ginger is sometimes a component of Chinese candy boxes, and a herbal tea can also be prepared from ginger.
In Japan, ginger is pickled to make beni shoga and gari or grated and used raw on tofu or noodles. It is also made into a candy called shoga no satozuke.
In the traditional Korean kimchi, ginger is finely minced and added to the ingredients of the spicy paste just before the fermenting process.
In Western cuisine, ginger is traditionally used mainly in sweet foods such as ginger ale, gingerbread, ginger snaps, parkin and ginger biscuits. A ginger-flavored liqueur called Canton is produced in Jarnac, France. Green ginger wine is a ginger flavored wine produced in the United Kingdom, traditionally sold in a green glass bottle. Ginger is also used as a spice added to hot coffee and tea.
In the Caribbean, ginger is a popular spice for cooking, and making drinks such as sorrel, a seasonal drink made during the Christmas season. Jamaicans make ginger beer both as a carbonated beverage and also fresh in their homes. Ginger tea is often made from fresh ginger as well.
On the island of Corfu, Greece, a traditional drink called τσιτσιμπύρα (tsitsimpira), a type of ginger beer, is made. The people of Corfu and the rest of the Ionian islands picked up the drink from the British, during their occupation of the islands.
In Arabic, ginger is called zanjabil and in some parts of the Middle East ginger powder is used as a spice for coffee.
In the Ivory Coast, ginger is ground and mixed with orange, pineapple and lemon to produce a juice called Nyamanku.
Medicinal use
The medical form of ginger historically was called Jamaica ginger; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines. Ginger is on the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" list, though it does interact with some medications, including warfarin. Ginger is contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones as it promotes the production of bile.[7] Ginger may also decrease pain from arthritis, though studies have been inconsistent, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease.[8]
Diarrhea
Ginger compounds are active against a form of diarrhea which is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries. Zingerone is likely to be the active constituent against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea.[9]
Nausea
Ginger has been found effective in multiple studies for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy,[10] though ginger was not found superior over a placebo for post-operative nausea. Ginger is a safe remedy for nausea relief during pregnancy[11].
Folk medicine
A variety of uses are suggested for ginger. Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. Three to four leaves of Tulsi taken along with a piece of ginger on an empty stomach is considered an effective cure for congestion, cough and cold.[citation needed] Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as stomach settlers for generations in countries where the beverages are made, and ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the United States. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation, which several scientific studies support, though one arthritis trial showed ginger to be no better than a placebo or ibuprofen for treatment of osteoarthritis.[8] Research on rats suggests that ginger may be useful for treating diabetes.[12][13]
Regional medicinal use
In the West, powdered dried ginger root is made into capsules and sold in pharmacies for medicinal use.
- In Burma, ginger and a local sweetener made from palm tree juice (Htan nyat) are boiled together and taken to prevent the flu.
- In China, ginger is included in several traditional preparations. A drink made with sliced ginger cooked in water with brown sugar or a cola is used as a folk medicine for the common cold.[14]
- In Congo, ginger is crushed and mixed with mango tree sap to make tangawisi juice, which is considered a panacea.
- In India, ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headache and consumed when suffering from the common cold, people use ginger for making tea, in food etc.
- In Indonesia, ginger ("Jahe" in Indonesian) is used as a herbal preparation to reduce fatigue, reducing "winds" in the blood, prevent and cure rheumatism and controlling poor dietary habits.
- In the Philippines a traditional health drink called "salabat" is made for breakfast by boiling chopped ginger and adding sugar; it is considered good for a sore throat.
- In the United States, ginger is used to prevent motion and morning sickness. It is recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration and is sold as an unregulated dietary supplement.
Reactions
Allergic reactions to ginger generally result in a rash, and although it's generally recognized as safe, ginger can cause heartburn, bloating, gas, belching and nausea, particularly if taken in powdered form. Unchewed fresh ginger may result in intestinal blockage, and individuals who have had ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or blocked intestines may react badly to large quantities of fresh ginger.[15] Ginger can also adversely affect individuals with gallstones.[8][15] There are also suggestions that ginger may affect blood pressure, clotting, and heart rhythms.[15]
Horticulture
Ginger produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers. Because of its aesthetic appeal and the adaptation of the plant to warm climates, ginger is often used as landscaping around subtropical homes. It is a perennial reed-like plant with annual leafy stems, about a meter (3 to 4 feet) tall.
Traditionally, the root is gathered when the stalk withers; it is immediately scalded, or washed and scraped, in order to kill it and prevent sprouting. Scalding, applied generally to the older and poorer roots, produces black ginger; washing and scraping gives white ginger. The natural color of the white scraped ginger is a pale buff; it is often whitened by bleaching or liming, but this generally reduces its value.
Production trends
India, with over 30% of the global share, now leads in global production of ginger, replacing China, which has slipped to the second position (~20.5%), followed by Indonesia(~12.7%), Nepal(~11.5%) and Nigeria(~10%).
| Top Ten Ginger Producers — 11 June 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Production (Tonnes) | Footnote | ||
 India |
420,000 | F | ||
 People's Republic of China |
285,000 | F | ||
 Indonesia |
177,000 | F | ||
 Nepal |
158,905 | |||
 Nigeria |
138,000 | F | ||
 Bangladesh |
57,000 | F | ||
 Japan |
42,000 | F | ||
 Thailand |
34,000 | F | ||
 Philippines |
28,000 | F | ||
 Sri Lanka |
8,270 | |||
| Template:Country data World | 1,387,445 | A | ||
| No symbol = official figure, F = FAO estimate, A = Aggregate(may include official, semi-official or estimates); | ||||
Similar species
Myoga (Zingiber mioga Roscoe) appears in Japanese cuisine; the flower buds are the part eaten.
Another plant in the Zingiberaceae family, galangal, is used for similar purposes as ginger in Thai cuisine. Galangal is also called Thai ginger. Also referred to as galangal, fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda), or Chinese ginger or the Thai krachai, is used in cooking and medicine.
A dicotyledonous native species of eastern North America, Asarum canadense, is also known as "wild ginger", and its root has similar aromatic properties, but it is not related to true ginger. The plant also contains aristolochic acid, a carcinogenic compound.
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Toxicology
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Compendial status
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See also
- Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan - contains ginger material
- Kaempferia galanga
- List of plants used as medicine
- Xiao Yao Wan - contains ginger material
References
- ^ "Zingiber officinale information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
- ^ "Spices: Exotic Flavours & Medicines: Ginger". Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ MD O' Hara, Mary (1998). "A Review of 12 Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs". Archives of Family Medicine. 7 (7): 523–536. doi:10.1001/archfami.7.6.523. PMID 9821826. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Glorious Ginger: Root Out Ailments with This Ancient Spice published by thefoodpaper.com
- ^ McGee, Harold (2004). On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen (2nd ed.). New York: Scribner pp. 425-426.
- ^ Glorious Ginger: Root out Ailments with this Ancient Spice published by thefoodpaper.com
- ^ Al-Achi, Antoine. "A Current Look at Ginger Use". Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ a b c University of Maryland Medical Centre (2006). "Ginger". Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ Chen, Jaw-Chyun (2007). "Ginger and Its Bioactive Component Inhibit Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Heat-Labile Enterotoxin-Induced Diarrhoea in Mice". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 55 (21): 8390–8397. doi:10.1021/jf071460f.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Ernst, E. (2000). "Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials" (PDF). British Journal of Anesthesia. 84 (3): 367–371. PMID 10793599. Retrieved 2006-09-06.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|day=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Glorious Ginger: Root Out Ailments with This Ancient Spice published by thefoodpaper.com
- ^ Al-Amin, Zainab M.; et al. (2006). "Anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats". British Journal of Nutrition. 96. Cambridge University Press: 660–666. doi:10.1079/BJN20061849. Retrieved 5 November.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Explicit use of et al. in:|first=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|doi_brokendate=ignored (|doi-broken-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Afshari, Ali Taghizadeh; et al. (2007). "The effect of ginger on diabetic nephropathy, plasma antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in rats". Food Chemistry. 101 (1). Elsevier: 148–153. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.01.013.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Explicit use of et al. in:|first=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Jakes, Susan (2007-01-15). "Beverage of Champions". Times on-line. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ^ a b c Mayo Clinic (2006-05-01). "Drugs & Supplements: Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)". Retrieved 2007-08-02.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Ward, Artemas (1911). "The Grocer's Encyclopedia". The Grocer's Encyclopedia.
External links
- Ginger from The Encyclopedia of Spices
- Medicinal uses of ginger
- Zingiber officinale List of Chemicals (Dr. Duke's)