الوصف

Ginger

Zingiber Officinale
Family: Zingiberaceae

History

Based on the  historic records more than ***0 years, ginger is believed to be originated in East Asia. Ginger has been used as a spice from ancient times. It has been widely used in Chinese and in Ayurvedic medicine. There is information that says at the time of ruling of Emperor Nero the Roman army used ginger as a medicine. It was found that ginger was imported to the European countries as a spice by ***7 A.C. In recent years Ginger has been cultivated as a commercial crop in many countries. Countries such as China, India, Australia, Fiji, Hawai, Hongkong, Jamaica, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, West Africa, Taiwan are few countries which cultivate Ginger in a large scale.

Products and Uses

Ginger is available in market as fresh ginger or in dry form. Dried ginger is powdered and used for different products. Pickled fresh ginger is popular in East Asian countries and salted and sweetened ginger products are also commonly available in the Asian markets. Ginger oils and oleoresins are used in the food industry as a spice to flavor curries, bakery & other food products and to some extent in the perfumery industry, Also it is a common ingredient in the Ayurvedic medical system till today.

Major Growing Areas

Ginger is grown in all over the country but wet and intermediate zones are major growing areas. Total cultivated extent in ***9 was ***8 ha. Kurunagala, Kandy, Gampaha, Colombo and Kegalle Districts are main growing areas. ginger is largely grown as an inter- crop with coconut and as a home garden crop. Total production in ***9 was ****5 Mt.

Varieties

Several local and introduced varieties are grown in Sri Lanka in large scale. 

Local ginger Rhizomes are small and the fibrous flesh is somewhat ash white in color. Pungency and aroma are comparatively higher than other ginger varieties. Largely used for beverages

Chinese ginger Rhizomes are large in size with watery flesh. Flesh is pale yellow in color. The Pungency and aroma is low. Largely used for pickles.  Rangoon ginger- Rhizomes are medium in size and with well spreaded finger rhizomes.