Mioga Ginger

mioga ginger Zingiber mioga, a close relation of ginger but valued for its buds and stems, not the rhizomes. It grows abundantly in N. Japan, having apparently been introduced there from China.

The buds, thinly sliced and used as a garnish, are very fragrant but not hot like ginger. They are used, often in the form of pickles, to garnish or flavour a wide range of dishes including soups, salads, tempura, bean curd dishes (see tofu), and sashimi. There is a popular belief in Japan that eating mioga ginger makes one forgetful, but this seems not to inhibit consumption.