Ginger, one of the most powerful and popular spices of the world, has a story that dates back 5000 years approximately. Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius celebrated its healing powers and to the Romans, it was a strong symbol of wealth and fertility. Here are some amazing facts about ginger:
• In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, a pound of ginger was equivalent to the cost of a sheep.
• When ginger is pickled in sweet vinegar it turns the color pink which is often seen in sushi.
• Ginger is not actually a root, it’s a rhizome. A rhizome is defined as an underground plant stem that can produce root and shoot systems of a new plant.
• Ginger possesses a therapeutic action called a sialagogue which is responsible for stimulating saliva production.
• Ginger is a part of the Zingiberaceae family, which also includes turmeric and cardamom.
• By the 11th century CE, it was a common trade article from the East to Europe.
• Chinese and Ayurvedic practitioners have relied on ginger for at least 3,000 years for its anti-inflammatory properties, and have used it as a “carrier” herb, one that enables other herbs to be more effective in the body.
