Crystallized Ginger - Candied Ginger

Sweet and Spicy Snack with Enormous Benefits

Among exquisite sweet life delicacies, there are not many products that can successfully serve as an example of a proper proportion of sweet-sharp taste and keeps crunchy crystallized ginger successfully.

Also Known as  Candied Ginger,  it is ginger preserved in sugar Syrup and has been a popular confection for many years because it is tasty to eat, healthy for the body and can be used in many recipes. At  NY Spice Shop, we have some of the best crystallized ginger we consider to be tasty, healthy, and satisfying to your mind as well.

Let's Talk about the Origin and The History of Crystallized Ginger

Ginger originated over 5,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, and with good reason has made it round the globe as a flavorful spice. It's said that ginger is the one of earliest spices in the spice family to be used by humans.  Fresh ginger was not only celebrated for its pungent taste and smell but also for its numerous health benefits. Chinese and Indian societies were probably the first to discover the many health benefits of ginger and included it in their treatment to get aid of diseases.

It may be more difficult to identify when crystallizing ginger itself came about, but it is assumed to have evolved in the middle ages in Europe. The technique was the preservation of ginger in  sugar  where the highly perishable root was transformed into a healthy food by simply covering it in sugar to preserve it. It became sweeter and candied and was taken as a fancy good to eat by the Noble classes as what they regarded as confectionery and as a medicine.

Crystallizing ginger is no easy affair and may take a good deal of time and effort and mature contemplation to make sure every ginger is in its best form to give it the essence of the root and at the same time sweeten it.

Selection of Ginger:Actually, these treatments used in ginger production start with the choice of the superior quality of  Fresh ginger roots. Young ginger is also better for crystallization because its skin is thinner, and the taste is less sharp. The roots are well checked for any signs of blemishes and other forms of imperfections that may be present.

Peeling and Slicing:

Next step is on the ginger where after selection it undergoes a peeling process in a bid to eliminate its fibrous cover. It is cut in a number of pieces predestined by its dimension that allows equal cooking and matter crystallization.

Cooking in Syrup:

These  ginger slices are boiled in sugar syrup; the sugar is absorbed into the root thus giving it a sweet taste. This step is important since it essentially sweetens the ginger amendment to a candy like product at this stage.

Drying and Crystallization:

The ginger is thereafter washed and allowed to cook in the syrup until it is well caramelized before the ginger pieces are drained and allowed to dry. They absorb moisture to form a skin of sugar crystals which produce the ‘sparkling’ effect observed on the ginger. The end product is a very soft and somewhat crispy slice that is sweet but with a hint of spice.

Ginger is now considered to be having some health benefits.

For centuries ginger was used to maintain digestion comfort and its components are now credited with properties that might prove beneficial in occasional stomach upsets. Moreover, this root vegetable is known to contain elements that may help to address inflammation, bolster the immune system, and enhance general health, especially in the period of the flare. Although it has sugar content, the benefits that come with ginger may be worth it to people conscious of their blood sugar levels; by those keen on the aspect of ‘clean eating’, ginger may be of interest to them. Furthermore, the extracts found in ginger are usually associated with the nutritional benefits for the heart, which could make the crystallized ginger both heartful, as well as a heuristic addition to the diets for those, who are interested in receiving the beneficial compounds from the natural sources.

Crystalized Ginger has Culinary uses as well………

It goes without saying that one of the biggest strengths of crystallized ginger is that it can be used in a rather diverse manner in various recipes. Thanks to its sugar-spiciness it calls for being added to so many different kinds of food: sweet and savory. Here are some creative ways to incorporate crystallized ginger into your culinary repertoire :Here are some creative ways to incorporate crystallized ginger into your culinary repertoire:

Baking: 

Switched fresh ginger by crystallized ginger in cookies recipes as well as in muffins recipes. It can be chopped and added to cookies, cakes and muffins to bring out the needed taste. In Gingerbread, crystallized ginger is added where the warm, spiciness is enriched to make it more intense.

Confections:

Enhance your homemade chocolates, truffles and fudge recipes and sprinkle them with finely chopped Crystallized Ginger or Ginger Candies. Using both chocolate and ginger as two popular ingredients enhances the sweet and spicy taste, thus making it exotic in taste.

Salads:

To have it on salads, it is recommended that you dry the crystallized ginger and chop it into small pieces, and then sprinkle it over the salad, instead you can mix it into fruit salad. It goes well with oranges, strawberries, blueberries, and even such neutral taste veggies as kale.

Cooking:

It is also important to note that crystallized ginger can more so be consumed in savory foods as well. If you’ve never tried saffron before, start small as it gives a good kick to your stir-fries, glazes, and marinades. It goes very well with proteins such as chicken, pork and fish.

Snacking:

Of course, crystallized ginger is good to just chew on being in crystallized form. Always preserve a jar at home so that in case of emergencies you can have them or when you are outside the house you can take it with you.

Beverages:

Add the taste of the ginger crystals to your tea, cocktails or mocktails. In its liquid-like, syrupy consistency it should be possible to add the ginger o-goo to hot or cold beverages to enhance the heat.

Crystallized ginger is not too difficult to store thus it becomes a staple food that can be stored in the pantry. In order to preserve the taste of the crystallized ginger one should store it in an airtight container cool, dry place. It has the shelf life properties that allow it to be stored and kept for use for several months.

Nevertheless, one should pay special attention to the presence of condensate or crystals: it means that ginger is gradually spoiling. Should the ginger dry up or is flavorless, then it should be discarded and be replaced by a fresh one.

Conclusion
Ginger candy is nothing better than acrystallized gingerthat is more than sweetmeats and a rich addition to every food storage. From its past tradition to health wise and versatile uses, one cannot wonder why this candied deliciousness has remained popular for centuries. When you have a queasy tummy, ginger helps, or when you just want the curious taste in your cooking, or just to munch on ginger, then NY Spice Shop crystallized ginger is the one to go for.
Find out all about crystallized ginger and how it may be used in cooking and also serve as a health booster. We at NY Spice shop pride ourselves in bringing to you this classic delight made to perfection.