There are more than 1,300 varieties of ginger in tropical climates around the world.
One of the first spices to be transported from Asia to Europe by Arab traders was ginger, a spice known for its aromatic, culinary, and medicinal qualities for centuries.
Furthermore, it is considered one of the most universal spices, since it is used in a vast array of culinary preparations.
The root stem or rhizome of ginger is an underground plant that can grow up to a meter above ground. It is a member of the Zingiberaceae family, which includes cardamom and turmeric.
The rhizome of a ginger plant has many different shapes and sizes.
Depending on the variety, the skin colour varies from light to dark tan and is semi-rough, with calluses and rings ridged upon its surface.
The thickness of the skin depends on the time of the harvest (i.e. early harvesting or harvesting after maturation).
Ginger flesh is fibrous and firm. The flesh colour can range from brown to yellow.
Ginger possess a strong, woody aroma. Fresh ginger is both juicy and crunchy, and has a slightly bitter, spicy, and a mild sweet undertone.
Scientific name of Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Other names of Ginger
- Gengibre
- Gingembre
- Jiang
- Adrak
- Kion
- Rojizo
- Ruivo
- Rossiccio
Nutrition facts of Ginger
*Serving size = 100 grams = 3.55 Ounces = 1/2 cup
*DV= % Daily Value (%DV indicates how much nutrients contribute to a person’s daily diet from a serving of a food. DV assists you in determining whether or not a serving of food is high or low in a particular nutrient.)
| Nutrient | Amount | Unit | DV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 80 | KCAL | |
| Fat | 0.75 | GRAM | 1% |
| Protein | 1.82 | GRAM | 4% |
| Carbohydrate | 17.77 | GRAM | 6% |
Calories by source in Ginger:
- Calories by carbohydrate in Ginger = 86%
- Calories by fat in Ginger = 8%
- Calories by protein in Ginger = 6%
Fats and Fatty Acid profile of Ginger:
- Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) in Ginger = 30%
- Saturated fat (SFA) in Ginger = 40%
- Monounsaturated fat (MUFA) in Ginger = 30%
Detailed vitamin profile of Ginger, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, Folate, Niacin, Thiamin, and Riboflavin is shown in the chart at the end of the article.
Detailed mineral profile of Ginger, Sodium(Na), Calcium(Ca), Copper(Cu), Iron(Fe), Magnesium(Mg), Selenium(Se), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K) and Zinc(Zn) is shown the chart at the end of the article.
Availability of Ginger
- Ginger is available round the year
Complete nutrition facts of Ginger
Click on the link HERE to download high quality, high resolution and print ready PDF version of the Ginger nutrition chart/infographic.
