Ginseng is one of the most popular plants in the world for making herbal medicines, but we love it for its culinary quality.
History Of Ginseng
Varieties of ginseng have been found in the mountains of Manchuria, China which date back nearly 5000 years ago.The birthplace of this plant is believed to be Shangdang, China and its use for human consumption dates back to the 1st century BC when it was used during the Han dynasty. With global trade, ginseng eventually spread all over the world. It has been harvested in Canada since 1716 and traded in the United States for decades.
Appearance Of Ginseng
Ginseng is a fairly short plant that stands around 15 inches high. Each stalk has around 3 sets of leaves with 2 leaves growing at the base. The leaves are pointed with serrated edges and the root is fork-shaped. The most noticeable part of ginseng are the tiny red berries that grow in clusters in the middle of the plant.
Flavor Of Ginseng
Ginseng has an earthy and sweet flavor, while the leaves are bitter in taste. Ginseng root has a strong aftertaste to it that can be quite bitter.
Types Of Ginseng
There are around 13 types of ginseng, but the two most common types are white ginseng and red ginseng.
White Ginseng
This type of ginseng is native to America. It turns yellow-white in color once peeled and air-dried.
Red Ginseng
This type of ginseng is more common than white ginseng. It is peeled and sun-dried. It is marinated in a herbal brew which makes the roots very brittle.
Culinary Benefits Of Ginseng
Ginseng is a common ingredient in a lot of Chinese and Korean dishes, particularly in soups. A hearty recipe that you can prepare is some chicken ginseng soup with fresh chicken breast pieces, chicken broth, ginseng, onion, corn, salt, and pepper. This soup keeps you full and tastes great. Try out this chicken soup with the addition of ginseng for an earthy flavor.
You can also add some ginseng to this already tasty hot and sour soup for an extra layer of flavor.
One common way of enjoying ginseng is in tea. You can make yourself some nice hot ginseng tea by steeping ginseng roots and honey in boiling water.
These Korean Short Ribs can also be made by adding some ginseng for a twist on an old favorite.
If you’re looking for something sweet, try making sunflower ginseng macarons! You will need sunflower seeds, ginseng powder, sugar, egg whites, and whole almonds. It is a great recipe that you have to try for yourself!
Storage Of Ginseng
You can wrap dried ginseng roots in paper bags or boxes. Never store it in plastic as it increases the humidity inside causing mold to grow.
