Learn more about ginger and its popularity throughout the ages.
When I was growing up, a special treat during the holidays was warm gingerbread. I am sure the gingerbread was from a boxed mix, but I still remember the aroma filling the house and anxiously awaiting the cream to be freshly whipped to top off this special treat. With the holidays just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to look a little deeper at ginger and its popularity throughout the ages.
Ginger’s history goes back more than 5,000 years, dating back to cultivations in Southeast Asia. The ancient Chinese and Indians considered its root a tonic for all ailments. Ginger has been used for centuries and is one of the world’s most useful plants. If you grew up in Michigan, a dose of Vernor’s Ginger Ale was the first line of defense for most mild maladies.
Ginger(Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant from the Zingiberaceae family, the same plant family as turmeric and cardamom. The ginger root is the edible part of the ginger plant. The ginger root is botanically a rhizome and simply known as ginger. Botanically speaking, rhizomes are underground stems. These stems grow just beneath the soil’s surface storing nutrients, including carbohydrates and proteins, until the plant requires them to survive the winter or send up new shoots to form new plants.
Fun facts about ginger
- Ginger originated in tropical rainforests from India to Southern Asia.
- Ginger is a perennial.
- Ginger is cultivated in the U.S., India, China the West Indies.
- Ginger was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
- Ginger arrived in Europe during the spice trade.
- Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with inventing the gingerbread man, which soon became a popular Christmas treat.
- Ginger contains many vitamins and minerals.
- Ginger contains gingerol, a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Other health benefits of Ginger include reducing hypertension, inflammation and nausea.
- Ginger can be candied for a spicy and sweet treat.
Getting back to my love for gingerbread, I have tried several recipes and recently found the recipe below linked to George Washington. It is attributed to Mary Ball Washington, George Washington’s mother. It has been reported that Mary Ball Washington served this gingerbread to the beloved French General Marquis de Lafayette who visited her in Fredericksburg toward the end of her life. This recipe is adapted from the Mount Vernon Inn recipes found at this website George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Lafayette Gingerbread recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- Scant 2 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 9-inch square cake pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and continue to beat until well combined.
- Stir in the flour with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice.
- Alternately add the eggs and flour to the butter mixture, beating very well after each addition.
- Add the orange juice and zest, continue beating for several minutes until the batter is smooth and light.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the cake on a rack to cool.
- Serve with fairy butter if desired.
For more information, see these references
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FAQs
Some plants such as, potato, garlic, ginger and sugarcane store food material in their stem due to which the stem bulks up in size. It is a common misconception where people think that these are all tubers or roots. Actually they are known as modified stems.
What is a fun fact about the ginger plant? ›
Fun facts about ginger
Ginger originated in tropical rainforests from India to Southern Asia. Ginger is a perennial. Ginger is cultivated in the U.S., India, China the West Indies. Ginger was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
What is the scientific name for ginger leaves? ›
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), which belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and the Zingiber genus, has been commonly consumed as a spice and an herbal medicine for a long time [1].
What is the classification of ginger? ›
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herbaceous flowering plant that belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. They are perennial plants that live for more than two years. Ginger is a rhizome which is a modification of the stem. It is native to Southeastern Asia and is known for its pungent smell.
Is it OK to eat ginger root? ›
Research shows that ginger is safe for most people to eat in normal amounts — such as those in food and recipes. However, there are a couple of concerns. Higher doses, such as those in supplements, may increase risk of bleeding.
Do we eat the root of ginger? ›
The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It's often called ginger root or, simply, ginger. You can use ginger fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice. It features in many recipes as well as processed foods, home remedies, and cosmetics.
Can I drink ginger every day? ›
How much ginger should you take daily? Ginger is safe to eat daily, but experts recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. Taking more than 6 grams of ginger a day has been proven to cause gastrointestinal issues such as reflux, heartburn and diarrhea.
When not to take ginger? ›
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions, and people with diabetes should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. DO NOT take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.
What is baby ginger called? ›
Baby ginger is also called 'pink ginger' or 'spring ginger', sometimes 'ginger's mild-mannered younger sister'. Unlike the characteristically gnarly mature ginger, baby ginger has a more mild flavor and is less stringy.
What does ginger do for the body? ›
Ginger may help relieve nausea and vomiting and aid digestion . Antioxidants and other nutrients in ginger root may help prevent or treat arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infection. Ginger may also reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other health problems.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial which grows annual pseudostems (false stems made of the rolled bases of leaves) about one meter tall, bearing narrow leaf blades.
Is ginger a vegetable yes or no? ›
Ginger is technically a vegetable, specifically a root vegetable. Here's why: Botany: In botanical terms, vegetables are the edible portions of a plant, excluding the seeds and fruits. Ginger is the underground stem (rhizome) of the ginger plant, not the fruit.
Can you eat the root of all ginger plants? ›
Not all ginger plants are edible. Ornamental varieties are grown for their showy flowers and foliage. Common ginger, also called culinary ginger, is one of the most popular edible types.
Which part of ginger plant do we eat? ›
The edible part of ginger is the modified stem rhizome which stores food material whereas in onion the edible part is fleshy leaves.
Can you use the root of ginger? ›
Available Forms. Ginger products are made from fresh or dried ginger root, or from steam distillation of the oil in the root. You can find ginger extracts, tinctures, capsules, and oils. You can also buy fresh ginger root and make a tea.
What edible root looks like ginger? ›
They are small, cylindrical tubers, with the rings and rough surface that make them look like single fingers of ginger.
