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Spices, Their Histories, Part 2

Boring Books for Bedtime Readings to Help You Sleep

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The History of Ginger

Three kinds of ginger were known to Italian merchants about the 14th century. The plant is a native of Asia, but also found growing wild in Mexico and East Africa. Ginger was introduced into America by Francisco de Mandoka, who took it from the East Indies to New Spain. It was shipped for commercial purposes from Santo Domingo in 1585 and from Barbados in 1654. When left too long in the ground, the rhizomes become very fibrous. If taken up too soon, they are tender and succulent,. so much so that they cannot be made sufficiently dry to render them fit for export in usual commercial form. They are therefore preserved in sugar.

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