Ginger comes from India and China and got its name from a Sanskrit word meaning "like a horn".



It has played an important role in both Indian and Chinese cuisine for centuries and is one of the first spices to arrive in Europe.



One of the factors to consider before using it is its spice level. Below we will see the heat of ginger as well as the compounds that are responsible for its taste.



Is ginger spicy?

Ginger is often described using adjectives such as spicy, fiery, and hot. Burning has to do with various factors, such as how ginger is processed.



Fresh ginger has a completely different heat level than cooked or dried ginger.



In other words: The answer to the question of how spicy ginger depends on the type of ginger.



What causes the hot taste you experience with ginger?

The spicy taste of ginger can come from any of these three compounds: zingerone, gingerol and shogaol. All three are derived from ginger.



Ginger is a phenol found in fresh, uncooked ginger and is chemically related to capsaicin, but it is much milder.



It is also related to the eugenol found in cinnamon and nutmeg and the piperine from which black pepper gets its heat.



When the ginger dries, the ginger forms 6-shogaol, which is sometimes shortened to simple shogaol.



Transformation doubles the heat, which is why many people find dried ginger more spicy than fresh.



If you want to make your fresh ginger even spicier, the answer is to dry it.



When ginger is exposed to heat, it becomes zigerone. Zigerone has much less in common with capsaicin and more with vanilla.



Does cooking ginger increase or decrease its warmth?

Cooked ginger is much milder than the raw version but still retains some heat.



The conversion of ginger to ginger reduces its heat, but it depends on how much of the ginger is exposed to heat.



For example, only the outer parts of large pieces of ginger can be exposed to heat, so the interiors can still be spicy because they contain unheated ginger converted to zingerone.



How to use it

How can you easily integrate ginger into your daily routine? Grated ginger is quite spicy so you may not like its taste. Fortunately, there are many options for those who love ginger.



Fresh ginger

This is the most powerful form of ginger, but also the most versatile. You can slice it and dip it in hot tea water, make it juice, add it to your smoothies, or even take a slice and suck it! Ginger juice is ideal.



Ground ginger

Ground ginger can be used in a similar way to fresh ginger. It can be immersed in hot tea water or added to your favorite recipes.