Ginger is one of the most popular spices in the world and comes from the underground stem of the ginger plant. The aromatic and fiery spice has been a signature ingredient in Asian cuisine since ancient times. Today, it is frequently used in medicines, food, and cosmetics across the globe

Uses

The spice has a slightly biting taste and is used, usually dried and ground, to flavour breads, sauces, curry dishes, confections, pickles, and ginger ale. The fresh rhizome, green ginger, is used in cooking. The peeled rhizomes may be preserved by boiling in syrup. In Japan and elsewhere, slices of ginger are eaten between dishes or courses to clear the palate. Ginger is used medically to treat flatulence and colic.

Ginger contains about 2 percent essential oil; the principal component is zingiberene and the pungent principle of the spice is zingerone. The oil is distilled from rhizomes for use in the food and perfume industries