Young Ginger

Inventory, 30 lbs : 0.75
This item was last sold on : 06/03/23

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Description/Taste

Young Ginger is a knobby, multiple branched rhizome found in many different shapes and sizes growing up to ten centimeters in length. The skin is devoid of the rough callousness that is found in mature ginger and is so thin that it can easily be removed by hand. The skin is also smoother and has a light cream-colored to tan base with some darker brown spots and pink blushing around the tips. Underneath the skin, the ivory to cream-colored flesh is almost fiber-free and is juicy, swollen, and crisp. Young Ginger is aromatic and tender with a mildly peppery, floral, and sweet taste.

Seasons/Availability

Young Ginger is available in the spring and early fall.

Current Facts

Young Ginger, botanically classified as Zingiber officinale, is the immature, underground rhizome or root stem of a tropical herb that can grow up to one meter in height and belongs to the Zingiberaceae family along with cardamom and turmeric. Also known as Spring Ginger, the young rhizomes are harvested approximately six months after planting and are favored for their subtle flavor and delicate texture. Young Ginger is highly perishable and cannot be shipped long distances, so it is mainly localized to the areas it is cultivated in.

Nutritional Value

Ginger is one of the world’s oldest known medicinal foods and is used to ease nausea and indigestion. It is also known as an anti-inflammatory and contains vitamin C, fiber, iron, and potassium. The nutritional content of Young Ginger is less than the mature rhizome that is left in the ground for up to a year longer, allowing the root to develop its medicinal compounds better. Ginger’s primary compounds are zingerone, shogaol, and gingerol, the amounts of which differ depending on geography, time of harvest, and processing.

Applications

Young Ginger is best suited for raw applications as its flavor is mild and less pungent than the mature rhizome. The flesh does not need to be peeled and can be thinly sliced or minced and added to stir-fries, whisked into salad dressings, stirred into kimchi or pickled carrots, tossed into salads, or mixed into soups and stews. Young Ginger can also be candied, steeped with sugar and water to make a simple syrup that can be used in granitas and sorbets, or used to flavor cocktails, wine, and kombucha. Young Ginger pairs well with plums, cranberries, corn, kale, arugula, scallions, sauces such as fish sauce, soy sauce, and oyster sauce, rice vinegar, noodles, and rice. The rhizome will keep up to one week when stored in a paper bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. It can also be sliced thinly and frozen for extended use.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Pickled Ginger root, called "gari" in Japanese, is commonly made from Young Ginger that is soaked in a rice vinegar and sugar mixture. This blend causes the cream-colored Young Ginger to turn light pink and is used as a palate cleanser at Japanese restaurants. Gari is often meant to be consumed in between eating pieces of nigiri to allow the consumer to taste the different flavors between the fish fully.

Geography/History

Young Ginger is native to tropical Asia and has been cultivated since ancient times. The first record of Ginger dates back to around 2000 BCE, and Arab traders introduced to rhizome to Rome and Greece. It wasn’t until the middle ages that Ginger gained popularity outside of the Mediterranean and Spanish explorers brought the root to the new world in the mid-1500s. Today, Young Ginger is widely cultivated across the world and is available through local markets in Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, the Caribbean, and in North, Central, and South America.

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Bea Green Cold Pressed Juice	Alpine CA	619-398-6295
Lime in the Coconut	Chula Vista CA	619-820-0961
Misadventure & Co.	Vista CA	413-668-6895
Daru	San Diego CA	929-400-3128
AToN Center Inc.	Encinitas CA	858-759-5017
Cal A Vie	Vista CA	760-945-2055
Boss Bird Kitchen	La Mesa CA	858-566-9191
Under Belly-Little Italy Bar	San Diego CA	619-269-4626
Deeply Nourished	San Diego CA	808-489-7366
San Diego Unified School- CCTE	San Diego CA	619-884-3899
Pamplemousse Grill	Solana Beach CA	858-792-9090
Madi	San Diego CA	320-491-1217
Sets Kitchen and Bar	San Marcos CA	970-390-2148
Grass Skirt	San Diego CA	858-412-5237
Surf Side Cuisine	San Diego CA	619-507-0891
Fishery - Bar	San Diego CA	858-272-9985

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Young Ginger. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Cooking on the Weekends		Ginger, Garlic and Chicken Dumplings
Port and Fin		Chamomile and Ginger Popsicles
A Peek into My Kitchen		Young Ginger Pulao
Choosing Chia		Roasted Carrot, Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup
From Pasta to Paleo		Ginger Mango Chia Pudding
Baking YUM		Ginger Lemon Cookies
Growing up Herbal		Ginger Chews
The Bojon Gourmet		White Nectarine Prosecco Sangria with Ginger and Elderflower
The Forked Spoon		Ginger, Garlic and Bok Choy Noodle Soup
My Wok Life		Asian Soy Sauce Young Ginger Chicken

the other 3...

Love Hawaiian Food		Pickled Ginger
Spicy Southern Kitchen		Ginger Salad Dressing
The Kitchn		Ginger Pumpkin Pie

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