Description

The ginger plant has a thick, branched rhizome (underground stem) with a brown outer layer and yellow centre that has a spicy, citrusy aroma. Every year, it grows pseudostems (false stems made of tightly wrapped leaf bases) from the rhizome which bear narrow leaves.
Ginger is the dried knobby shaped rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale. The Latin name, zingiber, derives from interpretations of the name in Indic languages where ginger was described asshaped like a deer\'s antler (horn).
The flavor of fresh ginger is slightly peppery and sweet, with a pungent and spicy aroma. Much like garlic, fresh ginger mellows with cooking and turns bitter if burned. The ground form is not as strongly flavored but has a warm bite and a little sweetness.