Are you a person who starts the day with ginger tea freshly boiled at home, or adds it to every dish you cook? Imagining a life without this spice, is quite difficult. If you are someone who wants to try out higher quality ginger packed with health benefits, let us introduce you to Ing Makhir.
Indigenous to the Indian state of Meghalaya, Ing Makhir is a kind of ginger that can give you its signature earthy and refreshing taste with even smaller amounts compared to the regular ginger, without compromising on its potency.
Ing Makhir ginger has the highest gingerol content. Its name is derived from the words ‘Sying Makhiu’. It is also called ‘Ing Traw’ in the local languages. Its name translates to ‘small’, which is also the first noticeable difference between Ing Makhir and regular ginger, as it is small and long, not bulky. Its skin is thin and contains a lot of fibres, making it easy to be powdered.
According to Zizira, an enterprise dealing in this ginger, this rhizome is grown in villages along the Assam-Meghalaya border and other regions like Sahsniang, Khatkasla and Jaintia Hills district.
Ing Makhir ginger has been in use for the culinary arts and medicinal purposes for a long time in Meghalaya and its neighbouring states. With its pleasant and strong aroma, it is an important ingredient in the preparation of Tungrungbai, a Khasi delicacy that is close to being a ‘chutney’. It is made of akhuni- fermented soya bean paste- along with Ing Makhir ginger, chillies, and sesame seeds.
Traditionally, the ginger is used to cure cough, cold, toothaches and more. The best way to access its health benefits would be to make a concoction; just boil a glass of water and put some Ing Makhir ginger in it. if you want to enhance the taste, you can definitely use some organic honey for a healthy drink to sip each morning.
- Ing Makhir has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help you build a healthier body.
- It is also helpful if you are travelling and feel the motion-sickness kicking in, as it helps fight off nausea without aggravating the vomiting.
- You can drink a cup of Ing Makhir herbal tea at the end of a hearty meal to digest your food properly, so you get the energy you need, not an urge for a nap!
- As the rains arrive early this year, protect yourself against the common viruses by eating and drinking healthy. Keep this easy ginger water by your side, as it is perfect to avoid trivial diseases that later lead into weakened immune systems.
When farmers present their unique produce to the rest of the country, or even the world, to see, they get the deserved value and recognition for their work at a larger scale. Despite that, it is important that any mediator company does not mooch off their hard-work and premium quality ginger with nothing left for them to consume. Choose the brands you decide to spend on for indigenous products carefully, so that your purchase directly affects the growers.
Brands like Zizira and Indian Tattva are closely tied with their farmer partners and do most of the work in the states that grows the ginger benefitting the local economy.
Also Read: Banding together to re-root the Jamaican ginger industry
