Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is an important commercial crop grown for its aromatic rhizomes which is used both as a spice and a medicine. Ginger of commerce is the dried rhizome. It is marketed in different forms such as raw ginger, dry ginger, bleached dry ginger, ginger powder, ginger oil, ginger oleoresin, gingerale, ginger candy, ginger beer, brined ginger, ginger wine, ginger squash, ginger flakes etc.

Many products can be manufactured from ginger like dehydrated ginger, ginger candy, ginger powder, ginger oil and oleoresins and so on. Ginger is an important commercial crop with versatile applications. As condiment, ginger is used for flavoring many food products like tomato sauce or ketchup, salad dressings, meat sausages, gravies, pickles, curry dishes and so on. It is also used in many medicines as it helps digestion and absorption of food and has antiseptic properties. Ginger based products have wide range of applications in many industries like food processing, pharmaceutical, soft drinks, meat canning, confectionary, tobacco processing, soap making and so on. It is, therefore, necessary to assess market for the contemplated products before finalizing the production capacity. There are good export prospects as well.

Ginger oil is obtained from the root of the herb Zingiber officinale. The peculiar hot taste and pungent taste of ginger can be attributed to the presence of an acrid compound called gingerol. Most of the health benefits of ginger are due to Gingerol. The essential oil of ginger exhibits numerous precious benefits for the well-being of mankind. Varied in color tones, from pale yellow to a darker amber color; the oil also differs in viscosity, ranging from medium to watery. Ginger oil has rich sources of a multitude of chemical constituents including a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol, y-terpineol, nerol, neral, geraniol, geranial, geranyl acetate, b-bisabolene, and zingiberene. Ginger’s essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the root of the plant. It is often blended with other essential oils to produce many different mixtures for many different ailments. Ginger works well when blended with atlas cedar wood, blue gum eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lemon, lime, Roman chamomile, rose, rosemary, sandalwood and vetiver.