Ginger - a fragrant root

​Cookbook references: Ginger crunch; Myra's biscuits; Creamy spicy tofu; Roasted cauliflower with coconut; Spicy coconut chickpeas; Spicy red lentils, mushrooms and spinach

Many older Pākehā New Zealanders may only consume ginger in the form of sweet treats such as ginger slice. However, Ginger is the rhizome of the perennial flowering plant Zingiber officinale, and it is widely used as both a spice and as a medicine in many societies. It appears to have originated in southern and eastern Asia, and was first domesticated by Austronesian peoples thousands of years ago. Lapita peoples later transported ginger throughout the Indo-Pacific as far as Hawai’i.

The culinary applications of ginger were first documented centuries ago in China, where Confucius was said to eat ginger with every meal. There are records that ginger was grown in pots on Chinese ships as a preventative for scurvy.

Over the years ginger emerged as one of the earliest luxury items that was traded around the world. Arab nations dominated the early commerce, importing ginger into Europe and Africa. The Roman Emperor Augustus invaded the Arabian peninsula around 25 BCE, in part to secure a reliable supply of ginger for ancient Rome. In Roman times, ginger was used in perfumes, cosmetics, medicines, and even love philtres and charms.

Ginger was an important spice during the lifetime of the prophet Muhammad, and features in the Qur’an. The Surah Al-Insan, describes Paradise as a place where you may enjoy “a drink of pure wine flavoured with ginger.” Arab traders once again traded this fragrant root in the Middle East. Dishes such as Haleem, which are often spiced with ginger, continue to be prepared to end the daily fast during Ramadam. 

Ginger plants were imported into Jamaica in the 16th century, during the era of Spanish colonisation. The plant flourished on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico and became an important export crop. In 1547, over 1,000 tonnes of ginger was exported from the Caribbean to Europe. until it was finally displaced by sugar tended by enslaved Africans in the 17th century.
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Today, ginger continues to be cultivated widely and India and Nigeria are the world's largest producers of this spice. Zingiber officinale is also grown across the Pacific moana and features in many Pasifika cuisines.


Links and references
Ginger From Ancient Times to the New Outlook - PMC
Ginger | Description, Plant, Spice, Rhizome, Uses, Flavor, & Facts | Britannica
Ginger, a history: from ancient luxury item to spice rack staple - Hyphen
Vegan Haleem
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Image credit: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen - The Internet Archive List of Koehler Images