Ginger

Lore & Background

Ginger is a herbaceous perennial that grows annual pseudostems about one meter tall, bearing narrow leaf blades. Its inflorescences have pale yellow petals with purple edges and arise directly from the rhizome. The plant is a true cultigen, not existing in the wild. Austronesian peoples used ginger rhizomes and leaves to flavor food, weave mats, and in religious rituals for healing and protection. Ginger was introduced to the Mediterranean by Arabs and described by Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder. During the Middle Ages, raw and preserved ginger were imported into Europe in increased quantity; in 14th-century England, a pound of ginger cost as much as a sheep. The ginger plant was smuggled to the Caribbean in the 16th century, eventually displacing sugar as the leading export crop on Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

Reader's Guide

Ginger has been used in traditional medicine in China, India, and Japan for centuries and as a modern dietary supplement. It may offer benefits over placebo for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, but there is no good evidence it helps with nausea during chemotherapy. It remains uncertain whether ginger is effective for treating any disease. In India, it is often farmed through homestead farming, with seed treatment methods including dipping in cow dung emulsion, smoking, and hot water treatment. The plant is also used as landscaping in subtropical homes due to its aesthetic appeal.

Did You Know?

• Ginger is a true cultigen and does not exist in its wild state.
• In 14th-century England, a pound of ginger cost as much as a sheep.
• Ginger was smuggled onto Caribbean islands in the 16th century and eventually displaced sugar as the leading export crop on Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.