Getting Cozy with Ginger Tea

This week marks our last produce distribution of the year before we take a break and pick up where we left off in the first week of January. Since we’re heading toward the darkest days of the year and won’t see you for a while, we wanted to leave you with a healthy dose of ginger root (in addition to all those other delicious fresh fruits and veggies), to keep you cozy.

Ginger, a member of the same plant family as turmeric and cardamom, is a medicinal and spice plant grown throughout the tropics. The root is mature at 8-9 months after planting but can be harvested earlier for a more tender skinned root intended to be used in fresh preparations.

Ginger has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for thousands of years to treat of a wide variety of ailments. The medicinal, chemical, and pharmacological properties of ginger have been extensively reviewed. While not all of ginger’s applications in folk remedies have been scientifically proven, there are very little negative side effects associated with ginger when consumed in culinary doses.

Ginger has been proven to be a highly potent antioxidant which has a range of curative and preventative health benefits, extending as far as being potentially anti-cancerous. Some clinical studies suggest that ginger can relieve painful symptoms of arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger has demonstrated antibacterial and antiviral effects and can be incorporated into home remedies for colds and flus. Lots of studies have shown ginger to have at least moderate effectiveness in treating nausea and upset stomach from a range of causes.

You can grate ginger into a cup of hot water and enjoy ginger tea on its own or with some honey stirred in. Also try golden milk, a warm drink that is a blend of ginger, turmeric, coconut milk and a pinch of black pepper stirred in with sweetener of your choice.

Enjoy!