Ginger - what is this plant and where it comes from

Ginger is a perennial plant that belongs to the Ginger family. There are more than 140 known species, the most common pharmacy, which is also known as medicinal or ordinary.

Description of the plant

Ginger flower can be decorative and medicinal, which is also used in cooking. The plant is native to places where the tropical climate prevails. Therefore, for comfort, it is necessary to provide high humidity and warmth.

Ginger during flowering

Appearance

When discussing ginger, what it is, first of all, they remember its root, similar to Jerusalem artichoke. It is a tuberous plant that is often called an earthen pear. Many do not even think about what the ginger plant looks like.

Ornamental species are distinguished by more colorful flowering. Ginger, used in medicine and cooking, does not bloom so abundantly as to direct forces towards the formation of a powerful rhizome. The plant, due to its external resemblance, is compared to a reed. But his stem is not covered with scales.

Bloom

Ginger blooms in spring and summer, and at home it is extremely rare. With proper care and comfortable conditions, flowers appear in the third year of life. The color depends on the type of exotic representative of the flora. The most common shades:

• brown;
• orange-yellow;
• red.

What does a ginger plant look like:

• The inflorescences resemble ears formed at the top of the stem from leaves rolled into a tube. They can be monochromatic or combine several shades;
• The shape of the inflorescences is varied. They look like cones, lilies, peonies.

Leaves

Leaves begin to grow at the root. They are narrow and reach a length of 20 centimeters, while the plant itself can grow up to two meters. At the ends, the leaves are pointed, have scales.

Root

The root of the plant is practically on the surface, in the upper layer of the soil. An underground stem covered with leaves is often confused with it. Inside, it is yellow and fleshy. The rhizome develops and releases ground stems. Leaves and inflorescences are subsequently formed on them.

Root

The root has a spicy taste and sounds like ginger in English. The word has a different meaning - piquancy, which fully reflects the quality of the plant.

Ginger: a vegetable or fruit

The question often arises: what is ginger, a vegetable or a fruit. In fact, it is neither one nor the other. It has a rhizome located in the ground. Therefore, ginger cannot be classified as a fruit that usually grows on trees. It also cannot be called a fruit. Therefore, it is generally accepted that this is a herbaceous plant.

Where does ginger come from?

India and Southeast Asia are considered the birthplace of ginger, from where the flower spread throughout the world. Appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages. In ancient times, the inhabitants of Asia used it as a spice and medicine. In China, it was used in rituals, it was believed that the plant scares away evil spirits.

Varieties and types for cultivation

Usually ginger root is light, slightly yellowish.Over time, with long-term storage, it darkens and turns brown. It is white when cut and then turns yellow. There is a variety with a reddish cut. But this is its only feature; this does not affect the taste and appearance of the ground part of the plant.

Different varieties differ in the color of the inflorescences. They may be:

• green;
• purple;
• yellow with blue veins.

Flowers smell differently:

• orange;
• fresh cut grass;
• kerosene.

The shape and length of the rhizome is another distinctive feature. There are various underground stems:

• resembling a fist or hand with spread fingers;
• round and flattened;
• elongated;
• horned.

Ginger Zerumbet

Ginger Zerumbet is an ornamental plant, the inflorescences of which resemble a cone. Its scales are tightly closed. At first they are green, during flowering they turn bright red, then they acquire a brown tint. At this time, seeds can be found between the scales, which are used for reproduction.

The plant is popular because it is considered unpretentious. You can grow it at home and outdoors.

Ginger Zerumbet

Ginger purple

Purple ginger is also called Plai. It differs from the usual one in that it has a cooling effect. Therefore, it is often used in medicine as an analgesic and antiseptic.

The root part is yellow or green. It grows mainly in India and Thailand. In the spring and summer, flowers appear, they can be white or yellow. At the same time, a pleasant aroma with a camphor note spreads. Purple ginger is often added to essential oil and is beneficial for:

• joint pain;
• asthma attacks;
• bowel problems;
• fatigue, insomnia.

White ginger

White ginger is also called Bengal. It is a commercial plant variety. The root is taken out of the ground and peeled. Then it is kept for some time in a weak solution of sulfuric acid. The purpose of the procedure is to make the root less pungent, it acquires softness and a pleasant aroma.

Black ginger

Black ginger is also a commercial plant variety. Its other name is "Barbados". After the roots are taken out of the ground, they are poured over with boiling water. Thanks to this action, the root acquires a burning and pungent taste.

Pink ginger

Pickled ginger (gari) is distinguished by its red color. On a cut of a fresh root, the shade is yellowish-gray. It turns red as a result of the action of vinegar and sugar, with which the plant is mixed. It is usually served with fish dishes to kill the flavor and move on to the next product.

Japanese restaurants always use pickled root when serving their meals. Many delivery services use the plant in their name, for example, "Ginger" in Zlatoust, "Southern Ginger" in Krasnaya Polyana.

Ginger Mioga

Mioga - Japanese ginger, is hardy. It is the only plant in the Ginger family that can survive in temperatures below freezing. The people of Japan appreciate the buds that are used for food:

• stew, pickle, canned;
• added to soups;
• used as a seasoning.

Ginger Mioga

Medicinal ginger

Ginger is a herb known for medicinal properties. The inflorescence of the pharmaceutical tropical representative of the flora resembles a cone, it is called spike-shaped. It does not occur in the wild. The flowers are purple-brown or yellow. In medicine, the roots of the plant are used, which are dug out after flowering. Then cleaned and dried. Their color is white-yellow, they have a pungent aroma and a burning taste.

Healing properties

The positive effect of ginger on the body is explained by its composition, it is even called the golden healer.It contains essential oils, vitamins, amino acids, substances with antiseptic, analgesic effects.

What Ginger Treats:

• has a laxative and choleretic effect;
• helps to fight worms;
• used in heat as a diaphoretic;
• stimulates blood circulation;
• heals muscle, joint pain and inflammation.

It is also used for nervous disorders that are accompanied by the manifestation of aggression. In addition, it promotes memory recovery, improves attention.

Cooking applications

The burning plant is widely used in cooking. Adding a root vegetable to dishes will help reveal the taste of the rest of the ingredients, the main thing is to use the product correctly. It can be consumed fresh, dried, pickled. It is added both in whole and in parts. The powder is used for making soups, sauces, desserts.

Dough is made from the root vegetable, add it while kneading. To make the sauce, add ginger at the very end. Many desserts and drinks are not complete without a hot spice.

Drinks are popular due to not only the original taste and tonic effect, they also contribute to weight loss. To make ginger tea, you need to grate a teaspoon of the root and boil it with boiling water. Ginger goes well with honey. The main thing is to remember that it is added at the end when the drink has cooled to room temperature. Otherwise, honey will release carcinogens that are dangerous to the body. A slice of lemon is added to the finished drink.

Ginger tea

Lemonade and kvass are prepared from the fresh root. You can make a delicious dessert with the addition of dried fruits. They need to be boiled, adding any spices to taste, for example, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves.

Which dried fruits to choose depends on preferences:

• apples;
• raisins;
• dried apricots;
• prunes;
• dates.

When the mass, diluted with water, thickens, a teaspoon of ginger is added. The syrup goes well with ice cream.

Turmeric and ginger

Often when cooking, the question arises, is it the same ginger and turmeric, are they interchangeable spices. Plants belong to the same family, so they can be considered relatives. They have some similarities in terms of appearance and development. Turmeric also uses a root. But its taste is not so pungent, it is softer and more pleasant. Therefore, when added to products during cooking, you can not be afraid to spoil the dish. Another similarity is the warming effect that both plants have.

Turmeric contains coloring pigments, even the root is bright yellow on the cut. Therefore, it is often used in cooking to give the desired shade. Turmeric is also prized in light industry and folk medicine. Mainly, it fights bacterial and viral infections, is able to heal wounds.

The main differences are:

• taste;
• root color in the cut.

Growing ginger at home

You can grow ginger from store-bought root. The main thing is that it is fresh and firm. Buds are visible at the root, which will help a new plant appear. To wake them up, you need to put the planting material in the water for a couple of hours.

Drainage is placed in the pot, then the prepared soil. It should consist of:

• sand;
• turf;
• humus.

The root is deepened by 3 centimeters so that the buds are at the top. It is necessary to water the plant abundantly, after 2-3 weeks shoots will appear.

Growing at home

It is important to provide the flower with comfortable conditions:

• spray periodically to create high humidity;
• protect from direct sunlight;
• watering depending on the temperature, in the heat, increase the frequency of moisture, avoid drying out the soil;
• after the leaves have withered, remove them and dig out the root, peel, dry, if necessary, store at a temperature of about 4 degrees.

Care depends on what the ginger is for. If purchased for the sake of flowering, as an ornamental plant, then at home you need to follow simple rules:

• do not remove the rhizome after the leaves have withered;
• water rarely in winter, providing the plant with peace;
• feed and increase watering in the spring;
• use a small pot to limit root growth.

Ginger is a plant that has both decorative properties and is widely used in medicine and cooking. The flower is native to tropical climates and can be kept at home to provide warmth and moisture.