Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Family: Zingiberaceae
What it is like
A perennial herb with swollen underground stems. It can grow 30-100 cm tall. The underground stem or rhizome branches and is horizontal near the soil surface. It is about 1.5-2.5 cm thick. Inside the rhizome is yellow and it is covered with scales forming a circle around it. The leaves are long (30 cm) and narrow (4 cm). Each leafy shoot usually has 8-12 leaves in two vertical lines on opposite sides of them. The leaf blade narrows evenly to the leaf tip. The flower is a cone 6 cm long on a stalk up to 30 cm long. (Flowers are not produced in all locations.)
There are about 100-150 Zingiber species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It is mainly grown from sea level up to 1900 m altitude in the tropics but will grow at higher places. It needs a loose fertile soil. It does best with plenty of humus. It requires a rainfall of 1500 mm or more per year. It does best where there is a short dry season and a good hot temperature. It cannot stand water-logging. In Nepal it grows to about 2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Andaman Is., Andes, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Reunion, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The underground rhizome is eaten raw or in salads. The young shoots are spicy and can be eaten. These young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. They are also pickled. The rhizome can be dried and powdered. These old roots are used as a spice. They are preserved in syrup. Oil of ginger is used as a flavouring. Ginger is used for drinks. The inflorescence is eaten in soup.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Common in most areas of Papua New Guinea and eaten in quantity as a vegetable and as a spice.
Edible parts
Rhizome, root, leaves, herb, spice, vegetable, flowering stalk, flowers
How it is grown
A portion of the rhizome is planted 5-7 cm below the surface of the soil. Sometimes light shade is used but it can be grown without shade.
It takes 12 months to mature. It is harvested several times. The young shoots are cut when about 7.5 cm high.
Its other names
Local names
Ada, Adi, Adrak, Aduwa, Ahirinri, Ai thing, Ale, Aliah, Allam, Allamu, Allan, Amada, Andrakam, Ardraka, Binzali, Cagolaya ni vavalagi, Chiang, Citta, Entangawuzi, Fiu, Gengibre, Gernber, Gin, Gingembre, Giung, Gung, Gyin, Gyinsein, Hajing, Halia, Haliya, Hanso, Hasisunti, Imbir, Inchi, Inguru, Ingwer, Inji, Inngy, Jahe, Jambu air, Jengibre, Jeung, Jiang, Jinjaa, Kaphu, Kari, Kebab, Keung, Khing, Knei, Luya, Mutugururu, Sawh-thing, Shibiri, Shoga, Shombiy, Sigaram, Siing, Soanth, Subru, Take, Tangawisa, Tangawisi, Tangawusa, Theing, Tubanka, Zangabil, Zenzero, Zimioga
Synonyms
Amomum angustifolium Salisb.; Amomum zingiber L.; Zingiber aromaticum Noronha; Zingiber cholmondeleyi (F. M. Bailey) K. Schum.; Zingiber missionis Wall.; Zingiber sichuanense Z.Y. Zhu et al; Zingiber zingiber (L.) H. Karst;