Ginger Aromas

Ginger has a remarkable culinary range, flavoring sausages and fish dishes as well as sodas and sweets. It has something of the quality of lemon juice in that it adds a refreshing, bright aroma— from fresh, floral, citrus, woody, and eucalyptus notes—and mild, pepper-like pungency that complements other flavors without dominating them. Gingers from different parts of the world have different qualities. Chinese ginger tends to be mainly pungent; South Indian and Australian gingers have a notable quantity of citral and so a more distinctly lemony aroma; Jamaican ginger is delicate and sweet, African ginger penetrating.