Could Ginger Root be one of the healthiest ingredients of all time? We are certain! Ginger Root Tea combines the flavours, aromas, and health benefits of the ginger root into a wonderfully aromatic and truly nutritious herbal tisane. It is easily recognised by its sharp, spicy flavour of an almost peppery quality, coupled with slightly sweet undertones.
This beverage is also known to offer a multitude of health-promoting properties, including improved digestion, reduced inflammation, balanced blood sugars, and even stress relief. These are just to name a few, with Ginger Root Tea now established as the choice-brew when it comes to its beneficial qualities. Enjoyed for well over 5,000 years in numerous different concoctions and decoctions, Ginger Root in herbal tea form is, without a doubt, one of our most popular beverages.
Despite its worldwide popularity, the ginger plant’s origins are steeped in great mystery. Botanically referred to as Zingiber officinale, Ginger no longer grows in the wild, and consequently, no one knows where it originates from. However, many historians and herbalists agree that it most likely evolved and ultimately spread from the Indian subcontinent.
Today, India is, in fact, the largest producer of ginger, while its cultivation is also carried out on the Maluku Islands (sometimes known as the ‘Spice Islands’), as well as much of Asia, West Africa, and the West Indies. It can even grow in the United States, including Hawaii, Florida, and, perhaps most interestingly, the eastern coast of Texas. One of the most famous cultivators of ginger is Jamaica, where it is often made into Jamaican Ginger Beer.
The plant itself, meanwhile, consists of a leafy stem that can grow to heights of up to 1 metre (3 feet), while the leaves can grow to 15 to 30 centimetres, the ginger root is technically a rhizome. It is brown with a corky outer layer and a scented pale-yellow centre. This is the source of our special herbal tea!
The word ‘ginger’ derives from the ancient Sanskrit phrase, meaning ‘shaped like a horn’. This is owing to its unique appearance. While it may not be known where it originated from, records have established that it was extensively imported and used in Ancient Rome. However, when the Roman empire fell in 476 C.E., trade shifted eastward as the Arabs began to monopolise sales. During this period, 500 grams of ginger was roughly the price of a sheep.
Centuries later, it is believed that King Henry VIII of Great Britain recommended ginger as a remedy to plague, while the later reign of Queen Elizabeth I brought about a new use for ginger, the gingerbread man. These small, sweet, baked figurines were created as gifts for Royal courtiers at Christmas.
It was also during the 16th Century that historians largely believe ginger was first introduced to the new world. English colonists and later Americans consumed ginger root tea to combat a number of ailments prevalent in their early, growing societies. Today, little has changed. To find out more information on how Ginger Root Tea can improve your day-to-day way of life, please read our Health Benefits section below.
Type of Tea: Herbal Tea.
Ingredients: Dried ginger root pieces.
Brewing instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes.
How to Serve: Honey is a very popular choice with this beverage. Lemon may be considered too. However, Ginger Root Tea is best served as it is.
Tasting Notes: Bold, flavoursome and enticing, Ginger Root Tea is a smooth yet spicy infusion that leaves a warm, tingling sensation at the back of your throat after every sip. It is certainly refreshing to the last!
Colour in Cup: Pale yellow liquor, light in tone.
Benefits of Ginger Root Tea: Feeling a little under the weather? Ginger Root Tea is, without a doubt, the answer. The antioxidant and antibacterial effects of ginger, both as a standalone ingredient and as a herbal infusion - are well established. It is known to fight nausea, soothe stomach aches and generally improve digestive health while relieving symptoms associated with the common cold and / or flu.
It can also aid with menstrual discomfort, according to a 2012 study published in ‘BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine’. This saw 120 test subjects suffering from dysmenorrhea split into two groups. The first group was given ginger extract three times a day, while the second group was given a placebo in the same quantity. The results indicated that the ginger group experienced less pain than those who took the placebo.
