Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the oldest spices with a distinct flavour and pungency. It has a wide range of uses that include culinary, flavourant in soft drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, confectionery, pickles, and pharmaceutical preparations. India is the largest grower of ginger and also the largest producer of dry ginger in the world. Other countries cultivating ginger extensively are West Indies, Brazil, China, Japan and Indonesia. In India Kerala, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and west Bengal are important ginger growing states. About 60% of the area is confined to Kerala, accounting for 25% of the country's total production. For dry ginger, the outer skin is removed with split bamboos having pointed ends. Only the outer skin is to be peeled since the essential oil of ginger remains near the skin, and dried in the sun for a week. The yield of dry ginger is 1625% of the green ginger

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the oldest spices with a distinct flavour and pungency