Ginger is very important commercial crop grown for its aromaticrhizomes which is used both as a spices and medicine. Ginger is valued for thedried ginger spice and preserved, crystallised ginger. Ginger is a perennialplant but is usually grown as an annual for harvesting as a spice. Ginger isbest grown in partial shade and can be incorporate as an intercrop in coconut,coffee and orange plantations.
Ginger possesses a warm pungent taste and a pleasant odor, henceit has a wide use as a flavoring in numerous food preparation, beverages,ginger bread, soups, pickles and many soft drinks. There are two general typesof ginger viz. fresh green ginger used for the preparation of candied ginger(in sugar syrup) and dried or cured ginger applied in the spice trade, forextracts, oleoresins and for the distillation of its volatile oil.
Several cultivars of ginger are grown in different gingergrowing are as in India and they are generally named after the localities wherethey are grown. Some of the prominent indigenous cultivars are Maran, Kuruppampadi,Ernad, Wayanad, Himachal and Nadia. The exotic cultivar ‘Rio-de-Janeiro’ havealso become very popular among cultivators.
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