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| Putting the zing into our lives with ginger |
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By KERRY HO* WE all enjoy the addition of ginger to our foods but it is worth looking at some of its history particularly its medicinal values. Ginger first appears in China’s ‘Pen Tsao Ching’ (classic of herbs) circa 3000BC and was one of the original products in the spice trade along the Silk Road. In 1298AD Marco Polo returned from China and awakens the Western World’s interest in trading direct with the Orient. He is said to be the first to introduce ginger to the west although the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and Arabs were all trading in ginger prior to the renaissance. Galangal, tumeric and cardamon are all related to ginger. Medicinally ginger is used frequently for dyspepsia and colic, although it is not recommended for people suffering from gallstones. Ginger may also decrease joint pain from arthritis and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties as well as analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial properties and has been found effective for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy. Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. 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. Young ginger rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. They are often pickled in vinegar or sherry as a snack. Mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from old ginger roots is extremely potent and is often used as a spice in Chinese cuisine to flavor dishes especially seafood; my favourite is stir-fried scallops and snow peas. In western cuisine, ginger is traditionally restricted to sweet foods, such as cyrstallised ginger (chocolate coated of course!) ginger ale, ginger beer, gingerbread, ginger snaps, ginger cake and ginger biscuits. The zing in ginger is from Zingiberaceae the botanical family name for ginger. Enjoy! *Kerry Ho is co-owner of Lindisfarne Motor Inn
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