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What Is Crystallized Ginger?
Ginger is a widely cultivated herb that has long been revered for its medicinal uses for over the course of 5,000 years. Candied ginger, or “crystallized ginger,” is a ginger root that has undergone a crystallization process. The crystallization process extends the shelf life of the ginger, makes it easy to store, diversifies its use, and increases its portability.
Today, crystallized ginger is sometimes eaten as a healthy alternative to candy. It can satisfy your sweet tooth while providing nutritional benefits that ordinary candy simply doesn’t provide. In addition to its sweetness, it has a perky spiciness that makes it an uplifting treat. Candied ginger is also used in a variety of ways to spice up culinary dishes.
Crystallized ginger is a portable treat that you can tuck into a purse or backpack. It can also be kept in a desk drawer or carried with you on a trip to ensure that you have easy access to a remedy for nausea or motion sickness.
Is there a difference between candied ginger and crystallized ginger?
No. Crystallized ginger, candied ginger, crystallized ginger candy, and preserved ginger is the same thing. The terms are interchangeable. They are all pieces of ginger root that have been preserved with sugar.
Dried Ginger vs. Raw Ginger
You may be wondering if raw ginger is better than dried ginger or vice versa. There are some key benefits to raw ginger and some different key benefits to dried ginger as well. It’s difficult to say whether one is better than the other.
Raw ginger has extremely high levels of polyphenol called gingerols, which is the predominant nutrient ginger has become famous for. When ginger is dried, many of the gingerols are converted to something called shogaols, which have been studied to have the most powerful medicinal effects. However, there is a slight downside to drying ginger. The heating and drying process actually ends up destroying many of the vitamins present in ginger, such as vitamin C.
Shogaols have a more pungent taste than gingerols as well, so dried ginger is actually spicier than raw ginger is. Dried ginger also lasts a lot longer than raw ginger, which can get kept for up to a year in a dry, dark place. Raw ginger can last only for a maximum of 28 weeks and only if stored under the right conditions (a cool, humid environment).
Health Benefits of Candied Ginger
Candied ginger is both extremely convenient and extremely healthy. In fact, you may want to purchase wholesale crystallized ginger for the purpose of having plenty on hand to spice up recipes or to enjoy as a sweet treat. However, once you begin eating it regularly and discovering its medicinal benefits, you are likely to develop whole new respect for this amazing spice.
Is crystallized ginger good for arthritis?
Almost everyone experiences some type of pain from time to time, and one of the major health benefits of ginger is its ability to relieve pain. When eaten regularly, dried ginger can help relieve muscle pain and soreness. It can also be effective in easing joint discomfort that stems from osteoarthritis.
Does candied ginger relieve indigestion?
Ginger contains properties that are good for relieving indigestion, so keeping dried ginger candy readily accessible can help you achieve quick relief. Simply popping a piece of crystallized ginger in your mouth can ease the discomfort that accompanies indigestion.
Can ginger lower cholesterol?
Another reason to make ginger a consistent part of your diet is that it supports heart health. Studies indicate that ginger may be able to help maintain lower cholesterol levels.
Is ginger candy good for acid reflux?
Ginger has long been touted as a remedy for acid reflux, and there seems to be some solid evidence that this is the case. Ginger seems to reduce the symptoms of stomach acid flowing upwards into the esophagus, and its anti-inflammatory properties suggest ginger may be generally good for acid reflux.
Gingerol, a Bioactive Compound With Medicinal Properties
Gingerol, the primary bioactive compound found in ginger, is a relative of capsaicin and piperine, which are the two compounds that give chili peppers and black pepper their spiciness.
Gingerols are the major constituents of fresh ginger, and they exert a variety of pharmacological activities. But when ginger is cooked, a transformation occurs in the gingerol that reduces the pungent flavor of the ginger.
On the other hand, when ginger is dried, a transformation occurs in the gingerol that actually causes an increase in the pungency of the ginger.
Studies have shown that gingerol may act as an anticancer agent, an anti-inflammatory remedy and an antioxidant, and as a remedy for nausea.
Is candied ginger rich in iron?
It turns out that candied ginger is actually quite rich in iron, an essential mineral that helps with increasing blood count, producing cellular energy, and immunity.
Ginger is Effective in Relieving Nausea From a Variety of Causes
Ginger is an effective treatment for the relief of nausea in numerous situations. It is often used as a method of relieving morning sickness. It is also used to relieve car-related motion sickness and seasickness as well.
Patients have found ginger to be able to ease or relieve bouts of nausea that occur following a surgical procedure or even a chemotherapy treatment. It’s a good idea to keep candied ginger on hand during the flu season because it can help ease flu-related nausea.
You might want to carry a few pieces of candied ginger with you for those times when a meal or specific food item you eat doesn’t settle well on your stomach. Eating a piece of crystallized ginger can quickly soothe an upset stomach.
Ginger Benefits Memory and Aids and Boosts Brain Health
Long-term inflammation is linked to the development of Alzheimer’s. When you consider the anti-inflammatory benefits of ginger, you’ll likely want to purchase bulk candied ginger so that you can make it a regular part of your diet.
Using crystallized ginger in a variety of ways is an easy, flavorful way to help protect your memory. Studies show that ginger can improve cognition and memory function. Ginger may also help increase your attention span and improve your reaction time.
You may buy crystallized ginger simply because you love its flavor, but you may end up developing even more respect for it knowing that ginger can improve your mood and help you think better.
How Many Calories Are In Candied Ginger?
Alas, candied ginger doesn’t come without its downsides. Only 100 grams of candied ginger contains 304 calories. So if you’re on a weight management plan or simply looking to cut some calories from your diet, you may want to limit this high sugary treat, despite its benefits.
General Questions About Candied Ginger
How long does candied ginger last?
Candied ginger keeps pretty well, so you can store candied ginger in an air-tight container, in a cool and dark place, for up to 3 months. If you’d like to keep it fresh for even longer, you can keep your air-tight container in the fridge.
How do you eat crystallized ginger?
Aside from eating it directly as a snack, you can do a few other creative things to incorporate it into meals. For example, you can dice up the candied ginger and sprinkle it into a fruit salad to add some nice contrast and kick. Candied ginger also pairs well when added to a cranberry sauce.
Where to buy crystallized ginger in bulk?
Funny, you should ask! You can buy bulk crystallized ginger right here.
Culinary Questions
What does candied ginger taste like?
Candied ginger has a lovely combination of both sweetness and spiciness. From a texture standpoint, candied ginger is very soft and chewy.
How do you soften crystallized ginger?
If your ginger has been sitting on the countertop or in the fridge for a while, it may begin to get harder. But softening up crystallized ginger is actually quite easy. Simply add the ginger to a saucepan with 1.5 cups of water on medium-low heat and simmer for about 50-60 minutes until the ginger softens to your liking.
How much candied ginger can you eat per day?
While candied ginger does contain some potent nutritional benefits, it should still be treated as candy and not a staple of your diet. If you truly love the flavor and would like to consume it daily, do so in very small amounts, such as one small slice of ginger per day. Eating candied ginger by the handful every day is not advisable.
How do you use dried candy slices?
Wondering what to do with your crystallized ginger? It turns out there are a lot of ways to incorporate it into your recipes. Here are just a few:
- Use crystallized ginger as a garnish for cocktails.
- Add crystallized ginger as a garnish on top of cakes and cupcakes.
- Puree candied ginger in a food processor, sift with a fine sieve or mesh strainer, and dust over baked goods for a deliciously sweet and spicy kick.
- Add candied ginger to your homemade trail mix or granola.
- Candied ginger works really well with pumpkin spice-flavored baked goods.
- Add crystallized ginger place of fresh ginger to your savory curries or stir-fries.
- Eat it straight up! It’s a delicious treat.
How do you make candied ginger without sugar?
If you want to enjoy the benefits of candied ginger without sugar, there is a way to do it. Here’s what you’ll need:
Sugar-Free Crystallized Ginger
Ingredients
- ½ fresh peeled ginger root, sliced or chopped
- 2 cups water
- ½ organic erythritol
Directions:
- Line a baking sheet or cookie sheet with parchment paper, and lightly sprinkle a little of the erythritol on the paper, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, if you haven’t prepared your ginger (peeling and chopping), do so now.
- Put the ginger and water together in a pot and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce to medium-high heat. Cook until the ginger gets tender. This may take from 35 minutes or up to an hour, depending on the size of your ginger pieces.
- Drain the ginger but reserve ⅛ cup of water.
- Put the ginger, reserved water, and now the erythritol back into the pot.
- Bring to a boil but keep it on medium-high heat, being very careful to make sure it doesn’t boil over.
- Keep stirring frequently and scraping down the sides of the pot until the sugar evaporates and crystalizes around the ginger, which should take about 20 minutes.
- Remove ginger from the pot and place on the cookie sheet to cool. You can place in the refrigerator to speed up the process.
If this sounds like too much work and you’d rather simply buy low-sugar candied ginger, we have some for you here.
