Zingiberaceae

The Zingiberaceae is the largest family of the order Zingiberales. It contains over 52 genera and more than 1,000 species. Gingers are found throughout the tropics and sub-tropics, but especially rich in South Asia. They are commonly used as spices and for their medicinal properties. In the Zingiberaceae family, also known as the “Ginger” family, there are three well-known Species: Turmeric, Ginger, and Cardamom. Turmeric is used for various medicinal purposes. It is known to treat arthritis, heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhea, intestine gas, stomach bloating, loss of appetite, headaches, and colds. They grow in temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, hence why they grow in the tropics. There are three distinguished types such as: Curcuma Longa, Alleppey Termeric, and Madras. Curcumla Longa, also referred to as “Indian Saffron”, is grown in a region of India, Tamil Nadu. It is bright yellow in color. Alleppey Termeric, also referred to as the “Alleppey Finger”, comes from a region of India called Kerala. It has a high color content and a deep flavor. Madras is named for the city of Madras, which is now known as Chennai in South East Asia. Its color is yellow/orange. Centuries ago, Turmeric was offered to the gods when assigning a young sacred prostitute to a temple. Human sacrifices were also made in the cultivation of turmeric because of belief that it could not have its deep color unless blood was poured. Ginger cultivation began in South Asia and has since spread to East Africa and the Caribbean. It has been cultivated for thousands of years in India and China. It was mainly cultivated for spice, leading it to be one of the most important spices in the spice trade. It played a huge role in determining the wealth and power of European countries. Indigenous peoples soon found ginger could relieve colds, fevers, headaches, and much more. Some people pour the fresh juice on their skin to treat burns. The oil made from ginger is sometimes applied to the