In the Middle Ages, ginger was valued as much as black pepper. A pound of ginger was worth the price of a sheep.

India is the world's largest producer of ginger. The highest quality ginger – Cochin ginger and Calicut ginger – comes from Kerala.

Almost all Indian curry recipes contain ginger. The traditional method involves finely chopping the ginger and frying it with the onion. Ginger also has a wide range of medicinal uses and was one of the first medicines often prescribed for stomach ailments.

Botanical name: Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Family name: Zingiberaceae

Part: Rhizome