Different Types Of Ginger

Ginger is one of those spices that have taken great relevance in recent times, is not only used in the culinary world but has tons of other benefits for our overall health; and did you know there’s more than one type! That’s right there are many different types of ginger and we’ll tell you all about them.

You are probably familiar with Chinese ginger, which is the one you regularly get, with the sturdy skin and yellow flesh, with the sharp stinging taste. Widely used to give some oomph to your food, a little ginger goes a long way and it is definitely one of those flavors you need a little time to adjust.

But ginger doesn’t stop there. Want to find out all the ginger varieties? Then you are in the right place. Learn how to differentiate your ginger and make the best use out of it, how to store it, different recipes, and much more.

Types Of Ginger

Were you aware that ginger has a classification of its own? Contrary to what you may think, ginger varies, and there’s more to it than the one that you always get at the market; there are actually a few kinds of this wholesome root.

When we talk about fresh ginger, we find there are ten overall types of it. We have six primary types and then four that are divided by color. Read about all of them below.

Types Of Ginger: Culinary Ginger

Culinary ginger needs determined climatic conditions in order to develop, specifically a hardiness zone or 9-12 zone with partial shade.
This type of ginger finds its origin in Asia, in humid and hot areas. What’s cool about ginger is that you can grow it yourself and it can grow indoors as well. You’ll have to wait several months to be able to use it in your recipes but it is dummy proof and anyone can do it.

Types Of Ginger: Globba Ginger

Also known as Dancing Ladies, this type of ginger needs a lot of suns and it grows in drained soil and in 8-11 zones. It is easily identified with purple or white seeds and small yellow flowers, and it won’t surpass two feet in height.

Globba which is pretty to look at presents different varieties because is available in numerous cultivars. Other varieties of Globba ginger have pink and purple bracts and a red tone on the back of the leaf.

Types Of Ginger: Grocery Store Ginger

Grocery store ginger or Chinese ginger or regular ginger is what you find at the majority of grocery shops across the country.
It lands there all the way from India and China and has a very fine taste and substantial roots. This type of ginger grows to be around four feet tall and it can extend no more than three feet if the room is available.
Visually, it isn’t a catchy plant at all and is available in numerous cultivars, which incorporates Rio de Janeiro as an Indian variety, and Gandzhou as a Chinese variety among many others.

Types Of Ginger: Hedychium Ginger

This type of ginger with the weird name needs a 7-11 zone to grow. This is purely a decorative kind of ginger including a variation called White Butterfly Ginger Lily which goes slumbering in wintertime. This type of ginger needs both sun and shade and moist soil to develop; it can grow to be seven feet and its roots and stems spew from the soil. These are white and have the shape of a butterfly.

Types Of Ginger:  Kaempferia Ginger

Kaempferia or Peacock gingers present small purple flowers and leaves in the shape of an oval which combines bronze and burgundy tones.
It is a tiny plant compared to other types since it only grows a few inches from the soil. They need shade and moist but well-drained soil to properly develop.

Types Of Ginger: Small Rhizome Ginger

Small Rhizome or Japanese ginger possesses an acute, potent taste. Like Chinese ginger, Japanese is also widely utilized to prepare food. Small rhizome also includes other types such as Kintoki and Sunti -both contain a potent flavor.

Types of Ginger By Color

Types Of Ginger: Baby Ginger

Baby ginger aka pink, green, spring, new, or stem ginger; has a fine skin and a light taste. This particular kind grows in a bunch which is nice because you can just take what you need in order to cook with it.
The stems are great to brew ginger tea and enhance some of your favorite recipes like pasta and soups.

Types Of Ginger: Blue Hawaiian Ginger

Despite the name, this type of ginger has a yellow core and bright-green leaves and offers a distinctive taste. Hailing from Brazil, it grows no more than three feet. This decorative plant will burn if placed under the sun and it needs 60ᵒ and 80ᵒ Fahrenheit to grow.

Types Of Ginger: White Ginger

White ginger is rarely found in the U.S.; it grows to be at least eight feet and is purely ornamental. Also called Ginger Lily or Butterfly Flower, it blossoms in both summer and fall seasons and is commonly found in Nepal, Nigeria, and India.

Types Of Ginger: White GingerYellow Ginger

Yellow ginger widely referred to as turmeric is actually a type of ginger and you probably didn’t know!
Turmeric has its own world with thousands of other species and is praised for its many benefits in cooking as well as its medicinal properties.
Used for inflammation, yellow ginger also boosts the immune system and supports brain function. But it doesn’t stop there, turmeric has also been effective in remedying a number of afflictions such as digestive issues, stress, skin diseases, and even some types of cancer.

How To Keep Ginger Fresh?

You probably want to make sure you keep ginger’s freshness state like any other product you get. To do this, you must take a few steps and ensure proper storage after you get your ginger from the market.

There are a few ways you can store ginger to keep it fresh:

• Store your ginger in a paper bag, a paper towel also works, and then place it in the fridge. Make sure you wrap your ginger chunk properly in a way that is not exposed to moisture or air. This way you’ll have good ginger for at least three weeks.
• When dealing with whole ginger, the easiest way to keep it fresh is to put it inside a Ziploc bag and press all the air out. You can just grab the pieces as you need and it will last fresh for over a month.
• If you have peeled ginger, then put it in a jar and add either lemon juice or vinegar. Though it may alter the flavor of the ginger it will buy you some time.

How To Store Ginger So It Stays Fresh For Longer?

If you wish your ginger to stay as fresh as possible for a longer period of time, you should keep it in the freezer.

Most prefer to store ginger once it’s been peeled and minced. Then all you have to do is transfer it to a tray and freeze, once is completely frozen, place it in a sealed container or freezer bag.

You’ll have ginger for up to a couple of months without compromising its flavor.

Can you Freeze Ginger?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze any type of ginger, this way you’ll make sure you have ginger for at least two months with its unique flavor intact.

Something to keep in mind is that once ginger has been cut, it must be kept in the fridge or freezer to extend its shelf life. So, remember once you slice your ginger you must not leave it at room temperature. It’s ok to store big pieces of ginger in the freezer, but you need to place them in a sealed container.

What To Do With Ginger Before It Goes Bad?

Discard your ginger if its firm texture becomes mushy or soft, also if you notice its regular yellow flesh turns dark or grey.
If you see some small mold specks, you may still cut off that part and use the rest; however, if the spots are large just throw it away.
But before your ginger goes bad, there are still tons of things you can use it, say to enhance the flavor in some of your favorite dishes!

Our Favorite And Easiest Ginger Recipes

Check out some of our favorite recipes using fresh ginger. Are there other types of ginger that you know of?