No, not all ginger is edible. While common or culinary ginger is widely used in cooking and medicine, some ginger varieties are ornamental and not intended for consumption.
Here's a breakdown:
-
Culinary Ginger (Zingiber officinale): This is the ginger you find in grocery stores. It's valued for its rhizome (underground stem), which has a spicy and aromatic flavor. It's used in various dishes, teas, and traditional medicines.
-
Ornamental Ginger: Several ginger species are grown for their beautiful flowers and foliage, not for their edible rhizomes. These may include:
- Alpinia purpurata (Red Ginger)
- Hedychium coronarium (White Ginger Lily)
- Curcuma alismatifolia (Siam Tulip or Summer Tulip)
While some ornamental gingers might not be outright poisonous, they often lack the flavor of culinary ginger and could potentially cause digestive upset if consumed. It's best to avoid eating ginger unless you are sure it is a culinary variety.
Therefore, it's crucial to identify the type of ginger before consumption. If you're unsure, err on the side of caution and avoid eating it.
