ginger
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- University of Wisconsin-Madison - Wisconsin Horticulture - Ginger
- Mount Sinai - Ginger
- Frontiers - Frontiers in Nutrition - A critical review of Ginger�s (Zingiber officinale) antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Ginger
- Nature - Fungicidal properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oils against Phytophthora colocasiae
- National Parks - Flora and Fauna Web - Zingiber officinale Roscoe
- Cleveland Clinic - Why Ginger Offers Health Benefits
- Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies - A review on ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) with unani perspective and modern pharmacology
- WebMD - Ginger - Uses, Side Effects, and More
- The Spruce Eats - What is Ginger?
- PennState - PlantVillage - Ginger
- Johns Hopkins Medicine - Ginger Benefits
- Verywell Fit - Ginger Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
- Clemson Cooperative Extension - Home and Garden Information Center - Wild Ginger
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence
- Plants of the World online - Ginger
- IndiaNetzone - Ginger, Types of Spice
What is the origin of the name ‘Zingiber’?
What are the main uses of ginger?
How is ginger propagated and harvested?
What are the physical characteristics of ginger plants?
What are the components of ginger’s essential oil?
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, flavoring, food, and medicine.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Angiosperm
- Order: Zingiberales
- Family: Zingiberaceae
- Genus: Zingiber
See also list of herbs and spices.
History
Ginger’s generic name, Zingiber, is derived from the Greek zingiberis, which comes from the Sanskrit name of the spice, singabera. Its use in India and China has been known from ancient times, and by the 1st century ce traders had taken ginger into the Mediterranean region. By the 11th century it was well known in England. The Spaniards brought it to the West Indies and Mexico soon after the conquest, and by 1547 ginger was being exported from Santiago to Spain. See also spice trade.
Uses
The spice has a slightly biting taste and is used, usually dried and ground, to flavor breads, sauces, curry dishes, confections, pickles, and ginger ale. The fresh rhizome, green ginger, is used in cooking. The peeled rhizomes may be preserved by boiling in syrup. In Japan and elsewhere slices of ginger are eaten between dishes or courses to clear the palate. Ginger is used medically to treat flatulence and colic.
Ginger contains about 2 percent essential oil; the principal component is zingiberene, and the pungent principle of the spice is zingerone. The oil is distilled from rhizomes for use in the food and perfume industries.
Physical description
The leafy stems of ginger grow about 1 meter (3 feet) high. The leaves are 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) long, elongate, alternate in two vertical rows, and arise from sheaths enwrapping the stem. The flowers are in dense conelike spikes about 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick and 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) long that are composed of overlapping green bracts, which may be edged with yellow. Each bract encloses a single small yellow-green and purple flower.
- Related Topics:
- gingerbread
- ginger ale
- ras el hanout
- ginger beer
- rhizome
- On the Web:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison - Wisconsin Horticulture - Ginger (May 13, 2026)
Cultivation and harvest
Ginger is propagated by planting rootstock cuttings and has been under this type of cultivation for so long that it no longer goes to seed. Harvesting is done simply by lifting the rhizomes from the soil, cleansing them, and drying them in the sun. The dried ginger rhizomes are irregular in shape, branched or palmate. Their color varies from dark yellow through light brown to pale buff. Ginger may be unscraped (with all of its cork layer), partly scraped, or scraped or peeled (with all of its cork, epidermis, and hypodermis removed).