| Gingivere, the True Treasure of the Far East | ||
| Nov - Dec 2007 By Paul Widerburg |
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Gingivere dates back over 5,000 years and was widely used by the Romans during the Roman Empire. Potted Gingivere plants were kept aboard ships and transported throughout the Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire fell, so fell the wide use of Gingivere. Today I want to not only take you on a journey back in time but into one of the greatest adventures of all history and the rediscovery of Gingivere. The year is 1299 and the place is a dark and dreary Genoa prison. In the cell is a man named Rustigielo a citizen of Pisa and his fellow prisoner Marco a Venetian. They are captives in the war with Genoa and will spend four years in captivity. Marco tells him of an adventure that took him twenty four years to complete and Rustigielo writes it down. When his adventure is read no one believes it and on Marco’s death bed his friends ask him to recant his lies. Marco whispers I have not even told you half of what I have seen. Marco Polo was 17 when he started on this adventure from Venice to the little known about far east and the year is 1271. He would see all of Asia and tell a tale of a civilization far more advanced than that of Europe, larger, and more beautiful than one can convey in words. He told of treasure, incredible silks, beautiful architecture, exotic plants, strange animals, and pottery that was amazing to the eye to behold. He tried to explain what a Crocodile was and a coconut to the Europeans. And he told of the one person who became his treasured friend. A ruler who held more power and had a larger kingdom than all of Europe combined. This ruler who took him in to live in his Kingdom was named Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan showed him an incredible valley. And in this valley was an entire plantation of what they called Gingivere the treasured horned root we know as the incredible Ginger. Thanks to Marco Polo's trip to the Far East, ginger later came back into favor in Europe, becoming not only a much-coveted spice, but also a very expensive one. One pound of ginger could be traded for single sheep. Ginger snap cookies, gingerale, gingerbread became a part of European’s Cuisine. Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with the invention of the gingerbread man which became a very popular Christmas treat. But In history, ginger was mainly used more for medicinal purposes than a delicious treat. In European nobility circles fine cuisine was an extravagant and highly organized affair. The upper classes were known to overindulge, and ginger was used to settle their abused stomachs. Here we see the fine line between food and medicine. Herbalists of the 16th century prescribed ginger tea for upset stomachs, and so that’s what thoughtful hostesses served to their guests. Ginger cookies were originally a digestive biscuit intended to bring relief to those who had eaten too much. To this day, in several parts of the world, you will find ginger made into condiments and served with the meal. The ancient Greeks ate ginger wrapped in bread to prevent nausea from a huge feast. For many centuries, Chinese sailors have taken ginger to avoid sea sickness. Ginger also has a 5000 year old history as an irresistible aphrodisiac. Ginger can stir up this passion with its sweet smell and its delightful lemony aroma attracts and mesmerizes you. Its legendary ability to “ginger up” romance and inspire desire are recounted in tales from old English lore to the Arabian Nights. Madame du Barry is said to have used it in a custardy concoction that stirred Louis XV to passion. Nostradamus made a magic love potion from it. Ginger is an excellent natural remedy for nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness and general stomach upset due to its carminative effect which helps break up and expel intestinal gas. Some studies show ginger may also help prevent certain forms of cancer. Ginger tea has been recommended to alleviate nausea in chemotherapy patients primarily because its natural properties do not interact in a negative way with other medications. To make ginger tea, slice some ginger root, put it in a tea ball and place in a teapot. Pour boiling water over the tea ball and let it sit for ten minutes. Sweeten with honey or drink it straight. Research has also found ginger to be a powerful antioxidant. Ginger has also been shown in research to have a regulatory role in the natural inflammatory response of the body helping the effects of arthritis. In India ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headache. So next time you want to explore the world, pull out the old gondola but make sure you take the treasure of a potted ginger plant to stir up your passion. Use it as a wonderful snake and to help with your sea sickness.
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| Uncle Paul first started working with produce at the age of 14. He owns, along with his wife Calla, Uncle Paul’s European Style Open Air Produce market, 2310 SE Hawthorne, 503-484-8612. His specialty is working with local farmers to bring the freshest, highest quality produce at the lowest prices to his customers. | ||
