Interesting facts

The scientific name "Zingiber" is derived from the Sanskrit word "sringavera" which means "bearing antlers" and vividly describes the shape of the ginger root.

Good things catch on. Whether in China, Japan, India, the Islamic world, Greece or the Roman Empire, or later at the time of Hildegard von Bingen or Paracelsus: everyone knew and valued the medicinal qualities of ginger. It is even mentioned in the Koran, where it is listed as one of the holy plants. In the South Pacific ginger is used by the magicians as an important charm. In the Middle Ages it was thought that a plant with such healing powers as ginger must come directly from the Garden of Eden.

In America crafty horse dealers are said to have given their horses ginger to eat. Its stimulating action is said to have made every horse gracefully raise its tail, a sign of youthful fire.

Apart from its medicinal uses, ginger root is also widely used in the culinary world: fresh in exotic dishes, powdered in many spice mixtures, e.g. curry, crystallised, in combination with chocolate or in ginger ale. It is used in mouthwashes and dental tinctures to improve the smell and taste. And it is sometimes used as fixative in perfumery.