Grandma Says
Ginger (Inji)
A superfood in its own right — the warming root that brings both heat and depth to a dish, and is treasured in tradition well beyond the kitchen.
- digestion
- fever
- headache
- general wellness
Grandma Says ginger is a superfood in itself. It goes into so many dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian alike, adding a gentle heat alongside the other flavors it unlocks as it simmers in a curry. To really understand what ginger brings, taste a little raw — the warmth tells you everything.
Nutrients
- Gingerol
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Manganese
Good for
- Digestion
- long valued as a digestive aid — one reason it's added to so many rich and non-vegetarian dishes, where it's traditionally believed to help the meal sit easier
- Comfort drink (kashayam)
- a traditional ginger kashayam: about an inch of ginger ground with a handful of coriander leaves, the strained juice mixed with a tablespoon of honey, sipped and followed by a little hot water — a long-standing home comfort when feeling feverish or run down
- Headache
- crushed to a paste and applied to the forehead, then resting a while, is a traditional way some ease a headache
Why it’s traditional
Ginger is a cornerstone of the food-as-medicine tradition — a warming spice valued for digestion and comfort, and the base of many a home kashayam (a traditional herbal drink).