Herb Directory
Ginger
Alternative Name:
Zingiber officianale
Ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale, originated in Maritime Southeast Asia and was likely domesticated by the Austronesian peoples.
Traders carried ginger throughout the Indo-Pacific during the Austronesian expansion around 5,000 years ago, reaching as far as Hawaii.
By the 1st century CE, it had made its way to the Mediterranean region, where it became well-known. The Sanskrit name for ginger, “singabera,” influenced its Greek generic name, “Zingiber.”
Ginger has been cherished both as a kitchen spice and a folk medicine for many centuries. Today, India is the world’s largest producer of this versatile rhizome.
Products that use this herb
