Ginger is native throughout Asia, and is widely used in Indian and Chinese cuisine. It has a gentle heat and aromatic flavour that will liven up any meal, and is often used in conjunction with chilli and garlic to add to curries world wide.
Ginger is a bit of a wonder-ingredient. As well as having a distinctive taste, it is of great nutritional value and its regular use is considered to be highly beneficial to health. The essential oils in ginger which are responsible for its flavour, also have many effects on the body, particularly its warmth, stimulating effect and ability to reduce nausea. It is great for calming the stomach, and indeed commonly taken to prevent sea-sickness, particularly in the form of crystallised ginger. We don't believe that these claims are exaggerated: a good dose of ginger really does have a perky-uppy effect.
