Ginger is the gnarled bumpy root of the ginger plant Zingiber officiale, which belongs to the same family as turmeric and cardamom. It was domesticated in the islands of Southeast Asia and came to the West via the spice trade. Though there are many varieties of ginger root, the most common has light brown skin and yellow flesh. Ginger is available in six forms: fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized (or candied), and powdered/ground.
