The Differences Between Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) and Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang): How to Choose the Right One for You?

Ginger is one of the most common ingredients in daily life

It is not only a great product that belongs to the category of food and medicine sharing the same source

But it is also rumored to prevent hair loss

However

There are two common types of ginger

Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) and Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)

(Don’t confidently say

Dried Ginger is just dried Fresh Ginger, right?

Because I have mentioned this before,

and the author laughed at me for it)

So I immediately arranged this article

I can’t be the only one who is knowledgeable~

First

Let’s understand the differences between Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) and Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) from their sources

Source

Both Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang) and Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) are rhizomes of the plant Zingiber officinale Rosc. from the ginger family.

However, Dried Ginger is made from fresh ginger that is planted in the ground, generally grown for more than three years, and harvested in the autumn, then peeled and dried or dehydrated, thus becoming Dried Ginger.

On the other hand, Fresh Ginger is made from the buds that grow on the ginger plant, generally a one-year growth, which is shorter and more tender, harvested in the autumn, thus the ginger produced is Fresh Ginger.

It can be seen that although Fresh Ginger and Dried Ginger share the same origin, from the cultivation method, Dried Ginger is the mother ginger, grown from seeds;while Fresh Ginger is the child ginger, grown from buds.Secondly, Dried Ginger is older and drier;while Fresh Ginger is younger and fresher, which is easy to distinguish.When we usually buy Fresh Ginger and Dried Ginger, if we cannot tell the difference, we must ask the seller first.

So,

Apart from being used in cooking,

What are the specific medicinal values of ginger?

Next,

Let’s understand the differences between Fresh Ginger and Dried Ginger from their effects and applications.

Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang)

For Wind-Cold Common Cold

Both Fresh Ginger and Dried Ginger have a spicy flavor, but Fresh Ginger is slightly warm in nature, and its ability to disperse outward is superior to that of Dried Ginger, belonging to the category of exterior-releasing herbs, which can induce sweating and release the exterior, suitable for mild cases of Wind-Cold common cold, and can be decocted alone or combined with brown sugar and scallions, as in the Five Harmony Tea from the “Food and Herbal Classics”.

For Various Types of Vomiting

Fresh Ginger has the function of warming the stomach, dispersing cold, harmonizing the middle, and stopping vomiting, known as the “sacred medicine for vomiting.” Whether it is due to spleen and stomach discomfort or nausea caused by cold, it can be used. You can suck on slices of Fresh Ginger or brew some ginger water to drink.

For Lung Cold Cough

Fresh Ginger can warm the stomach, disperse cold, transform phlegm, and stop cough. It is effective for lung cold cough, regardless of whether there is an external Wind-Cold or not, and whether there is a lot or little phlegm.

In addition, Fresh Ginger also has the effects of strengthening the stomach, aiding digestion, and detoxifying, which can be used for mild cases of spleen and stomach deficiency, loss of appetite, and food poisoning from fish or crabs. There is a saying, “Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, no need for a doctor’s prescription,” which emphasizes that people can eat more ginger in the hot summer, as Fresh Ginger is spicy and warm, it can warm the stomach and strengthen the spleen, improve internal deficiency, and help prevent diseases and maintain health.

Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang)

For Spleen and Stomach Cold Syndrome

Dried Ginger is warm in nature, and its spicy and strong nature is more potent than that of Fresh Ginger, primarily affecting the internal organs, especially the spleen and stomach, and is good at warming the middle and dispersing cold, belonging to the category of warming interior herbs. Many people have weak spleens and stomachs, and even a little cold food or a slight breeze can cause them to feel cold in the spleen and stomach, leading to diarrhea. In such cases, we can consume some Dried Ginger.

For Yang Deficiency Syndrome

Dried Ginger has the effect of warming the heart, assisting Yang, and reviving Yang to open the meridians, often used in conjunction with Fu Zi (Aconite) to treat Yang deficiency syndrome, which can help revive Yang and save the reverse, while also reducing its toxicity, as in the Si Ni San (Four Extremities Decoction).

For Cold Phlegm Cough

Dried Ginger can warm the lungs and transform phlegm, indicated by symptoms of coldness, back cough, and excessive clear phlegm, often combined with Ma Huang (Ephedra) and Xi Xin (Asarum), as in the Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction).

Finally

Can you distinguish between

Dried Ginger and Fresh Ginger now?

Why not test yourself to see~

Which one is the mother ginger, grown for a longer period, needs to be peeled and dried, and looks older?