Ginger essential oil | Zingiber officinale

Traditional use: Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely recognized as a tasty and aromatic spice. Indeed, in international cuisine it has an important role – from spicy Thai care, through Japanese sushi, to an English ginger beer. But it is not the taste alone that makes ginger such an interesting herb. It is worth considering using ginger because it exhibits many properties that might turn out beneficial for your health. In the form of essential oil this plant is very effective in aromatherapy and cosmetics. Traditionally, ginger has been treated as one of the best warming substances which is particularly helpful in the season of infections – usually mid-summer to winter. Keep in mind that ginger also has analgesic properties, reduces inflammation and stimulates circulation of the blood. Some people prefer to use ginger in order to alleviate pains in their muscles and joints. It is also useful in the state of physical exhaustion as its strong aroma arouses the body and gives more energy. In late autumn and winter, when we are most likely to get an infection, it is worth using the oil for its antibacterial, antiviral and expectorant effects. What is more, in natural medicine ginger is one of the most popular aphrodisiacs that provide a better mood and increase libido. It can be effectively inhaled but also used in massages as its strong, sweet and spicy aroma will stimulate your mind and senses.

Occurrence: Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial plant that belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. Currently, it does not grow in the wild but is cultivated in many countries, mainly in India (32% of world production). Ginger most likely comes from Indonesia. It was brought to Europe by Phoenicians – the nation of merchants and sailors. Thanks to that, it got popular among the ancient world powers – Greece and the Roman Empire. In the middle ages the royal courts of England and France also became interested in this herb.

From the outside it looks similar to common reed – it has leafy sprouts that grow up to 1 m in height and slightly shorter sprouts without the leaves. The flowers of ginger are gathered in dense conelike spikes. The most distinctive part of the plant is an underground section of the sprout with the rhizome that has yellow color and stringy structure inside. The rhizome is valued for multiple health benefits and exceptional taste.

Biochemistry: Ginger essential oil is a composition of many active substances, e.g. zingiberene, valencene, beta-phellandrene, citral and bergamotene. 

The oil available in our shop is produced with a method of steam distillation from the rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale). Thanks to that, every drop is optimally condensed and has an aroma bouquet unique for this plant.

Aroma: Top note of high intensity and medium durability.

Fun fact: Currently, ginger does not occur naturally – it is grown as a cultivar. Some sources claim that it was one of the first cultivated plants in history. This history is about 5 000 years long and starts in Indonesia. Ginger was also one of the first spices exported from South-Eastern Asia.