GINGER IS WEIRD - All about the edible seeds, flowers, rhizomes and FRUIT of gingers

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  • Опубліковано 28 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 916

  • @WeirdExplorer
    @WeirdExplorer  Місяць тому +9

    Come see me and my feature length documentary on NUTMEG
    Live in NYC. Dec 15, 2024: nutmegscreeningnyc.eventbrite.com

  • @ChaosPootato
    @ChaosPootato 5 місяців тому +647

    "wuh ackh ugh" is my favorite flavor

    • @isaaco5679
      @isaaco5679 5 місяців тому +27

      I think he needs to say galangal a few more times! Lol

    • @Bobson_Dugnutt_Esq
      @Bobson_Dugnutt_Esq 5 місяців тому +37

      Gotta put some wuh ackh ugh on that thing.
      (This will definitely not be outdated in two days)

    • @ssatva
      @ssatva 5 місяців тому +16

      19:14 "Unhihn, hein hein hein" is a key component to the flavor profile of Grains of Paradise, it seems...

    • @joekeegan-yc4nm
      @joekeegan-yc4nm 5 місяців тому +10

      Hawk Tuah

    • @_efault
      @_efault 5 місяців тому +1

      hawk tuah

  • @thespeedofplant5427
    @thespeedofplant5427 5 місяців тому +633

    Aloha WeirdExplorer,
    I'm a botanist on the island of Oahu. I recognized your mystery ginger (19:36). It's grown in Hawaii as an ornamental plant. We call it shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet). That particular plant was variegated so it came from horticultural stock and was probably planted as an ornamental because of the beautiful striped leaves.
    On a side note, the one you ID as soap ginger (24:43) is actually a close relative called beehive ginger (Zingiber spectabile). Beehive ginger is a common landscaping plant out here. It often gets mistaken for soap ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) which is also known as awapuhi in Hawaiian.
    Love your channel! Long time fan.
    Mahalo,
    Shawn

    • @TaLeng2023
      @TaLeng2023 5 місяців тому +14

      How to differentiate them? The seller just label it "shampoo ginger". It haven't flowered yet so far.

    • @phlogistanjones2722
      @phlogistanjones2722 5 місяців тому +17

      @thespeedofplant5427 AHA! I recognize AWAPUHI as an ingredient in high-end "fancy" shampoo my girlfriend uses! It is nice to find out information like this. Thank you.
      Peaceful Skies.

    • @carolinekaufman2210
      @carolinekaufman2210 5 місяців тому +9

      Oh man the plants of hawaii are sooooo cool! It would be wonderful to explore more hawaiian plants!

    • @eeeehale
      @eeeehale 5 місяців тому +7

      One of the most excellent botanical gardens I've visited was there in Wahiawa. Thanks for the clarifications offered in such a respectful way.

    • @rafa6222
      @rafa6222 5 місяців тому +4

      Alpina zerumbet is used dried as a spice for Chinese hotpot.

  • @MermaidMakes
    @MermaidMakes 5 місяців тому +137

    When I studied herpetology in Florida, we had so much soap ginger growing all over campus. It really came in handy out in the field, especially because my study was on Cuban Treefrogs. After hours of catching and numbering specimens, their mucus would coat our hands, and was very irritating if you accidentally rubbed your eyes. The Soap Ginger removed the irritating mucus when plain water struggled (we didn’t ever carry soap, it would have been just one more thing to lug around with all of our equipment), so it became an excellent friend to us.

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv 5 місяців тому +10

      That’s so interesting. It’s soap ginger because you can use it as soap. I wonder what the chemical reaction was, like which ester in the ginger is interacting with the mucus.

    • @MermaidMakes
      @MermaidMakes 5 місяців тому +14

      @@ferretyluv I’m no botanist, but my guess is that it’s more of a physical reaction than chemical, in that whatever compounds are in the water act as a surfactant just like soap. Soap also lifted and removed the mucus, but we had to wait until we got back to the lab, and it was really difficult to remember not to rub your eyes for hours on end! 😆

    • @AncientWildTV
      @AncientWildTV 2 місяці тому

      ​@@MermaidMakes thats cool. How did you know the benefits of soap ginger for removing it?

    • @hunterduncan8824
      @hunterduncan8824 2 години тому

      This is what we do with spider wart plants during spring and summer! We never carry bug bite medicine because crushing the stems and getting the mucus out works so much better than any topical we’ve tried, and we all have severe allergies!

  • @Liliarthan
    @Liliarthan 5 місяців тому +105

    Vostok’s “I love you” eyes tells me that her safety message was shared with love and biscuits. Thank you safety kitty. 💜

  • @Annaeliza96
    @Annaeliza96 5 місяців тому +234

    Long time watcher, but I’ve never commented. I just wanted to say your videos bring so much joy to my life. Ive watched your videos through addiction, homelessness, recovery, and now intense nerve pain in my mouth 😭 still managing to brighten my day. You’re interesting, informative, and true to yourself, not many are like that. Thank you for being you and doing all of this.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +49

      Thanks so much. I hope the nerve pain gets better soon 😕

    • @Annaeliza96
      @Annaeliza96 5 місяців тому +22

      @@WeirdExplorer this too shall pass 😌

    • @stevenpham6734
      @stevenpham6734 5 місяців тому +2

      I can partly relate. Have been watching the channel for almost a decade of my 20s, so much has changed

  • @Karoline_g
    @Karoline_g 5 місяців тому +277

    Once upon a time when I was in school for Chinese medicine, I noticed that the Chinese name for medicinal galagal basically translates to “big power ginger”. I called it high octane ginger for years. :) you have absolutely validated my studies and sense of humor today!

    • @LOVEisTHEultimateLAW
      @LOVEisTHEultimateLAW 5 місяців тому +22

      oh yeah galangal is big powered ginger indeed XD got some at my local viet store once and WOW 10x stronger than ginger

    • @SamTahbou
      @SamTahbou 5 місяців тому +9

      Does Chinese medicine do anything?

    • @Karoline_g
      @Karoline_g 5 місяців тому +15

      @@SamTahbou ….seriously? 👀 Well, I’ve been a professional acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist for nearly 20 years, so I certainly think so. Beyond that, I’d suggest doing some Google searches or even checking pubmed to see the thousands of studies on the topic.

    • @Somedude20282
      @Somedude20282 5 місяців тому +15

      ​@@SamTahbouIt's a mix! Some yes some no- plenty of medicinal herbs have proven oils and compounds that can help with various illnesses

    • @Arithryka
      @Arithryka 5 місяців тому +13

      ​@@Somedude20282 also, "it's complicated!" I remember reading about a study that tested an herbal remedy for malaria. The modern method of preparing the remedy destroyed the compound that would treat malaria (I think it got too hot maybe?) but they were able to find or re-develop a method that worked.

  • @noelcrenshaw7969
    @noelcrenshaw7969 5 місяців тому +47

    Did I just watch a 25min video about ginger and enjoy it? Yes. Yes I did

    • @EShirako
      @EShirako 7 днів тому +1

      Me too, so I won't say anything bad about you OR ginger..! :)

  • @sergeant_sushi6078
    @sergeant_sushi6078 5 місяців тому +142

    I'm a chef and I really appreciate these videos where you're just experimenting and trying new things. You give me a lot of inspiration for new creations! I had no idea ginger was such a versatile plant, and I will likely try out dried torch ginger to see if I could use it in my recipes.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +25

      I'm so glad!

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv 5 місяців тому +5

      Now the problem is that you’re going to have to charge a lot because these are hard to get ahold of.

  • @keegsmarshall6610
    @keegsmarshall6610 5 місяців тому +48

    It constantly amazes me how so many strategies used by plants to repel insects produce flavours and sensations that are loved by humans.

    • @tealkerberus748
      @tealkerberus748 3 місяці тому +2

      Sucks to be a plant.
      Plant: "Hey, I'll make this really irritating burning chemical so that insects and animals won't eat me!"
      Humans: "Mmm, tasty! Make more!"

    • @newolde1
      @newolde1 2 місяці тому +1

      ​@@tealkerberus748nah that's the beauty of the cycle of life! Imo plants want to be propagated. They have many strategies, scent, flavor, sticky or latching seeds etc..

    • @tealkerberus748
      @tealkerberus748 Місяць тому

      @@newolde1 "be liked by the humans" is definitely the best strategy for most plants, even if they only stumbled on it by accident while trying to drive us away. They're definitely much less likely to go extinct if we decide we want them around.

    • @kuratr
      @kuratr 5 днів тому

      Marijuana develops resinous trichomes to protect from insects, fungi, regulate temperature, protect from UV rays etc
      Humans: let's smoke it lelz

  • @Alexander-iq1fx
    @Alexander-iq1fx 5 місяців тому +611

    More disclaimers from you cat please

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +204

      She's looking out for us

    • @Konarcoffee
      @Konarcoffee 5 місяців тому +86

      I like what's she doing with her paw very much

    • @BillCoz
      @BillCoz 5 місяців тому +16

      @@WeirdExplorer Give her a cutesy voice to disclaim stuff to us.

    • @sandrastreifel6452
      @sandrastreifel6452 5 місяців тому +18

      @@KonarcoffeeThat’s the warning, be safe or you get the spikey paw!

    • @Hsssssssssssssssssss
      @Hsssssssssssssssssss 5 місяців тому +27

      Disclaimer : you cant eat a ginger cat😾

  • @angharadllewellyn2192
    @angharadllewellyn2192 5 місяців тому +16

    Thanks very much. I'm a retired North American botanist living in the New World Tropics. I have about 8 different gingers in my garden. This is the ONLY place I've seen that provides so much interesting info on gingers. I'd like for you to do a podcast about the fruit from Monstera deliciosa that also grows WILD here. Ravenala madagascariensis and Strelitzia also grow in my garden. All these plants are in the Ginger order, along with Bananas, Canna, Costa & Heliconia I am in a botanical paradise! Thanks again!

  • @MaxPolun
    @MaxPolun 5 місяців тому +94

    Another commonly used ginger rhyzome is sand ginger. I see it called for dried in Chinese recipes all the time, and Wikipedia says it's used a lot in Indonesia.

    • @totot99
      @totot99 5 місяців тому +9

      It *is* used a lot in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java and Bali, for salads, stews, soups, snacks etc. In Malaysia it is most used in the cuisine of the Penang Nyonyas (specifically Penang).

    • @munirahbakar4123
      @munirahbakar4123 5 місяців тому +9

      In Malaysia, we call it "cekur" (not to be confused with "cekur manis", which is a different plant) and mainly use the leaves rather than the rhizome (except, of course, in the aforementioned Nyonya cuisine).

    • @totot99
      @totot99 5 місяців тому +3

      ​​​​@@munirahbakar4123specifically PENANG Nyonya cuisine. the emphasis is important. the Nyonya cuisines of Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan do not use the rhizomes. the only non-Penang-Nyonya Malaysian dishes that I know of that use the rhizomes are getik (Malaysian Javanese sand ginger coconut stew, usually catfish for protein) and lontong Banjar from Tenglu, Mersing (not lontong Banjar from actual Banjarmasin, which is different).

    • @synx6272
      @synx6272 5 місяців тому +2

      i love kencur in sambal!! also it is widely used to make Seblak here in West Java

    • @rurascarlet6544
      @rurascarlet6544 4 місяці тому +2

      Beras kencur my beloved (it's a rice drink with that rhyzome in it)

  • @Hortifox_the_gardener
    @Hortifox_the_gardener 5 місяців тому +47

    Your new super long documentary format is *awesome*! Nobody would ever take this much time to talk about ginger outside of "boring" botanical publications. If you look up something about ginger you will only find scummy stock footage garbage selling ginger as miracle food (and of course diet wonder drug). Thanks so much!

  • @takforalt
    @takforalt 3 місяці тому +20

    I added ginger, galangal, turmeric, finger root, black pepper and plai, also in the ginger family with anti-inflammation properties, with enough vodka to cover it. I let it sit for 8 weeks and then mixed it with soda water, a squirt of lime, and a bit of honey. It tastes fantastic, warming like ginger but with a deeper, earthy taste. Hopefully, I will have this healthy anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory concoction once a week. I live in Thailand, so I can get it all fresh.

    • @brandonmorningstar6176
      @brandonmorningstar6176 12 днів тому

      My man, you made infused vodka and then made some sorta boujee ass vodka colins with it. Don't try to tell us you're being healthy 🤣

    • @takforalt
      @takforalt 12 днів тому

      @@brandonmorningstar6176 It is a potent tincture, only a tiny amount, about an ounce a week. You don't have to buy it, and I am not selling it saying it is loaded with ginger family antioxidants; the alcohol amount is genuinely trivial.

    • @torvegademe
      @torvegademe Годину тому

      Hej @takforalt - jeg går ud fra at du er dansk 😊 Jeg sværger selv til ingefær og vil meget gerne vide mere om din recept. Er du sikker på, at de gavnlige egenskaber bevares i spiritusudtræk? Vh Lene fra Helsingør

  • @TheWeirdestOfBugs
    @TheWeirdestOfBugs 5 місяців тому +68

    Vostok, the Securikitty. Loved how she was making biscuits with her little paw.
    Ginger has become one of my best friends since I suffer from vertigo. No one knows why it works, but it helps me feel better every time it attacks.

    • @Just1Nora
      @Just1Nora 5 місяців тому +5

      Oh? I'm a BPPV sufferer myself. Please, tell me more. Getting a shower day before yesterday l turned around and flipped my head upside down too many times and I had to recline on my bed for 20 minutes before I could move around safely and without feeling extremely nauseous.
      (I'm always a fan of air biscuits) 😂

    • @TheWeirdestOfBugs
      @TheWeirdestOfBugs 5 місяців тому +8

      @@Just1Nora Ginger tea (just place the ginger in hot water and let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes) has been REALLY effective for my nausea. It also prevented me from getting motion sickness while traveling by car or bus.

    • @lemonyskunkketts7781
      @lemonyskunkketts7781 5 місяців тому +4

      Get your ears checked.

    • @TheWeirdestOfBugs
      @TheWeirdestOfBugs 5 місяців тому +3

      @@lemonyskunkketts7781 Been going to doctors over this for a long time. And the tea does help the biggest problem, the nausea.

    • @jbeargrr
      @jbeargrr 4 місяці тому +2

      Do you have Menier's disease? I have that. I can go long periods with no episodes, then get them in clusters. I get a high pitched ringing in my ears, then the world seems to tilt and spin. Mine don't last very long, maybe a couple of minutes, but that's enough to put me on the floor, puking. At that point I'm not in any condition to make tea. I can't do anything but lie there for awhile.
      I've started taking meclizine daily, as a motion sickness preventative. I've had a couple of episodes since I started taking it, and it stops the horrible nausea. I still feel shaky and wrung out afterwards, but it stops the lying on the floor puking part.

  • @censusgary
    @censusgary 5 місяців тому +72

    7 dollars in New York is a lot cheaper than 15 cents in Indonesia, if you count the cost of going to Indonesia.

    • @jasonjayalap
      @jasonjayalap 5 місяців тому +15

      Yes but it's even more expensive to go from Indonesia to NY and pay $7.

    • @RadenWA
      @RadenWA 5 місяців тому +14

      And now we understand the spice trade!

    • @rvcrhelpdesk6364
      @rvcrhelpdesk6364 5 місяців тому +6

      Can we count the cost of living in New York?

  • @ripcactusify
    @ripcactusify 5 місяців тому +58

    Tysm for making these videos weird explorer. A lotta us environmental science majors love your stuff. It was kinda nuts finding out how many people I know personally who watch your stuff, especially when you were a kinda smaller channel back then. You're actually extremely popular with us! And it's so cool to see you've grown so much since then. I was actually inspired to change majors (from bio to eco) from your videos years ago. A lot of us absolutely LOVE finding out about different types of fruits (and nuts etc).

    • @UsenameTakenWasTaken
      @UsenameTakenWasTaken 5 місяців тому +3

      My 'tism made reading this very funny the first time around.😂

    • @ripcactusify
      @ripcactusify 5 місяців тому +1

      @@UsenameTakenWasTaken no yeah I got the tism too and it makes writing things kinda weird >.

  • @zackweiler1397
    @zackweiler1397 5 місяців тому +25

    Just a quick, interesting technique for getting ginger juice. You can put ginger in the freezer for a week+. When you thaw it afterwards, the ginger can be squeezed with your fingers to get the juice out. Freezing it allows the ice to break down cell walls and turns it from a hard root, into more of a sponge type texture. We put ginger in our morning drinks everyday and having easier to squeeze ginger is a life/time saver.

  • @krystal6137
    @krystal6137 5 місяців тому +30

    Vostok is so beautiful, her eyes are mesmerizing.

  • @dishwasher1070
    @dishwasher1070 5 місяців тому +22

    this channel is becoming such an in depth pool of knowledge. I love how all the old videos are referenced and that you go back and make corrections or new insights on what you previously mentioned.

  • @pattheplanter
    @pattheplanter 5 місяців тому +65

    The pepper/beef one is almost certainly Alpinia zerumbet.
    The soap ginger you show is definitely Zingiber spectabile - not Zingiber zerumbet (not to be confused with the quite different Alpinia zerumbet, gingers can get very confusing). I recommend gbif for helping to identify plants by location.
    The mango tasting root is probably Curcuma amada, the mango ginger which is in the same genus as turmeric. The leaves look right for that. The essential oil of the rhizome is very pleasant but loses its smell very rapidly on storage.
    Krachai (finger root) and kentjoer are less common in Europe but a good Thai or Indonesian shop should have them along with galangal. Certainly British ones have them.
    That is a really old and woody sample of galangal you had, most we get here is pale, slender, tender and pink.
    The loss of the first r in turmeric seems to be quite a recent phenomenon, mostly in shops.

    • @totot99
      @totot99 5 місяців тому +3

      Interesting that you spelled it as kentjoer and not kencur

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter 5 місяців тому +9

      @@totot99 I got my first fresh sample of kentjoer root from a shop in Amsterdam 25 years ago. So I think of it by the Dutch name. Brought it back and grew it. Beautiful flower, like so many gingers. I have grown quite a few species of ginger over the years.

    • @jacqdanieles
      @jacqdanieles 5 місяців тому +4

      Yes, you're right. It's used as an ornamental plant -- variegated ginger -- in gardens in Florida & other tropical areas. I had no idea it was edible.
      Apparently it's commonly called "Shell Ginger" -- _alpinia zerumbet variegata_
      There's a video called "cooking with Shell Ginger" that's interesting.

    • @bluesteno64
      @bluesteno64 3 місяці тому +3

      Yeah! I think the pronouncing of turmeric to “tumeric” has caused people to spell it that way as well.

    • @pattheplanter
      @pattheplanter 3 місяці тому +2

      @@bluesteno64 Yes, I much prefer not pronouncing it like tumour.

  • @davidedgar2818
    @davidedgar2818 5 місяців тому +27

    I live in Hawaii and grow a few varieties of edible gingers. I was not aware that so many other varieties fruits were also used in cooking.
    The soap ginger you showed we have hear but it's not the " shampoo" ginger that I was aware of. The " shampoo ginger flower is similarly shaped but has delicate blossoms in purple/White or all white. There is a sap in the blossom that is somewhat jelly like and used as a shampoo and body wash. I have used it and it really does work. It is better than any bottled shampoo. I do have the white variety growing on the farm I live on.

  • @freakfreak786
    @freakfreak786 5 місяців тому +11

    One of the primary uses of torch ginger stems is in flavoring soups and stews. In Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine, the stems are often added to dishes like laksa and asam pedas, imparting a distinctive aroma and depth of flavor. By cutting the stems into smaller pieces, they can be simmered in broths and stews, providing a subtle yet complex taste.

  • @edibletropicaltrees
    @edibletropicaltrees 5 місяців тому +11

    I'm growing 3 different types of ginger in Mesa, Arizona. One is the Shampoo Ginger. I like growing all different kinds of plants the most people tell me won't grow in the deserts in Arizona. I have around 400 trees growing at my house.

  • @KEvronista
    @KEvronista 5 місяців тому +20

    cat on lap = instant like vote
    KEvron

  • @Caberbalschnit
    @Caberbalschnit 5 місяців тому +10

    I love ginger, all parts. I'm glad to see someone make a video of hard to find exotic species. Prolly one of my favorite vids from this channel. Thank you!

  • @tammibolender3785
    @tammibolender3785 5 місяців тому +22

    We found the varigated ginger at a local nursury, they said it was for decoration only, good to know that it is very likely edible like any other ginger. Next time I see it I am going to buy it because it is beautiful too. I love that you guys are sweating you behinds off to get the goods to show us, I appreciate your efforts.

    • @sandrastreifel6452
      @sandrastreifel6452 5 місяців тому +2

      There are so many beautiful Ginger relatives. The blossoms just scream “tropics”!

    • @StuffandThings_
      @StuffandThings_ 5 місяців тому +3

      Do be careful, not all parts of all gingers are fully recognized as edible. I know that at least Myoga, which is a very popular ornamental one which has some variegated forms, only is known for its edible flowers, so don't eat the rhizomes.

    • @tammibolender3785
      @tammibolender3785 5 місяців тому +3

      @@StuffandThings_ that may have been what it was. It would be great if more plant stores and nurseries told you the name of the plant rather than just telling you it is ornamental ginger or "tropical foliage".

  • @AwesomeFish12
    @AwesomeFish12 5 місяців тому +28

    Alpinia caerulea(Australian Blue Ginger) is a controversial one in terms of the edibility of the seeds, some people say the seeds will make you sick, some say they are deadly if you eat enough and some people say that drying the fruit whole and grinding it up along with the seeds to make a herbal tea is a traditional use and perfectly safe.

  • @justinkendall5647
    @justinkendall5647 5 місяців тому +10

    This was a really fun episode, learned way more about ginger than I ever expected to!

  • @MrEiht
    @MrEiht 5 місяців тому +10

    I love "my" ginger. It comes from Peru and produces shoots before I have a chance to prepare a tea. Then I put it in soil, it grows massive and happily and two year later I harvest a bit less than I initially planted. So much fun! 😂

  • @spamletspamley672
    @spamletspamley672 5 місяців тому +17

    You missed one that is sold in some of our Indian shops in the UK. It's Zedoary but they call it 'Amba', and it is a white alternative to turmeric so that you don't have to stain all your dishesand microwave plastic. It has nice leaves and I grow it as a houseplant, though I've not got it to flower yet, and these look quite beautiful in pictures. The leaves do die back as each rhizome is used up but shoots soon come out from the new rhizomes if you haven't eaten them.
    As for turmeric powder ('haldi'), I find it much more bitter than the fresh, orange, root, and very rarely use it since supermarkets started stocking the fresh rhizomes.
    Chinese warehouses, have fresh galangal, which is infinitely better than the almost tasteless but expensive jars of minced stuff. Indian shops have bags of dried slices of galanga, but they are pieces of wood that are probably best broken up and steeped in boiling water that you then strain to use.
    There is a 'wild' flower in the pea family, called 'galingale' or 'Goat's Rue' in the UK. Some say it's a pest, but it's an attractive one. I don't know why the name is so similar to galanga, but, in a country where all the shops sell Nigella seed as 'onion seed', anything is possible! :)

    • @SobrietyandSolace
      @SobrietyandSolace 5 місяців тому +2

      I much prefer fresh turmeric root for tea. So nice with milk and honey

  • @Chaotic_Autism
    @Chaotic_Autism 5 місяців тому +3

    Vostok is so utterly gorgeous! her eyes and the lil paw action was so cute! I wana give her a hug! Give me a hug for her!

  • @ryanford2965
    @ryanford2965 4 місяці тому +3

    I love how your cat was like I'm just gonna make one biscuit lol so cute!

  • @cristea_mihaela
    @cristea_mihaela 5 місяців тому +12

    I love your cat so much! I consider her to be the mascot of the channel.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +15

      according to her I'm the mascot and she's the star

    • @hollyoswald7808
      @hollyoswald7808 4 місяці тому

      @@WeirdExplorer. Of course! The only point of view a cat would take…

  • @kellmac
    @kellmac 5 місяців тому +4

    I love when cats do the single-paw knead.

  • @gr8handsftl
    @gr8handsftl 5 місяців тому +15

    I have a plant of galangal, turmeric, and a few others. They all grow really well down here in Florida. One of the gingers that you didn't mention is the red button ginger (Costus woodsonii) which produces a red cone/bracts which elongate with age and produces orange to yellow firm flowers which are edible. They taste citrus-like and we tend to put them in salads for a citrusy crunch. The fruit is white with black seeds and kind of fibrous, never thought of trying to eat them though, I do know that the leaves are edible too, but haven't tried the leaves yet either. Maybe I'll try some today lol
    Never tried eating my torch ginger, I have the dark red variety. Next spring when it blooms, I'm going to have to try it.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +6

      You're right! I have an older video of me eating one of those flowers too.. Ah well, maybe for a sequel.

    • @TaLeng2023
      @TaLeng2023 5 місяців тому +1

      Is costus root edible? There don't seem to be much in the roots

  • @galaktikai
    @galaktikai 5 місяців тому +7

    I've been watching your channel for a few years now, and I just want you to know how much I love your videos! You describe the experience of each fruit in a way that just can't be replicated. I wish you and yours the best in everything, and thanks for everything you do!

  • @edwardwong654
    @edwardwong654 2 місяці тому +3

    The cat is very cute. She is the star!

  • @zard5930
    @zard5930 5 місяців тому +27

    Thank you, handsome cat named Vostok, for the disclaimer about safety. I love how it just kneads in the air. Such a helpfull cutie!

  • @sunnyquinn3888
    @sunnyquinn3888 5 місяців тому +20

    Love the kitty making invisible biscuits! 😻

  • @Meshuggah333
    @Meshuggah333 5 місяців тому +20

    That soap ginger is wild!

  • @commenter4898
    @commenter4898 5 місяців тому +10

    19:52 That looks like _Alpinia zerumbet_ .We have that here in Taiwan (Mandarin name 月桃 yuetao). The seeds were used as a spice in the old days and the leaves can be used to wrap zongzi (rice ball, more commonly using bamboo leaves).

  • @jeremyknight4608
    @jeremyknight4608 5 місяців тому +9

    haven't watched the whole video yet but Canna indica (aka canna lily) is edible! a little bland and stringy but very starchy but you can make a flour out of it like tapioca or American arrow root! the seeds are sort of spicy dried and ground as well.

  • @FarmGearInnovators
    @FarmGearInnovators 2 місяці тому +1

    Ginger with a mango-like flavor? 🥭🌶 Mind blown! Loved the comparison between turmeric, galangal, and finger root. Definitely hitting the Asian market for more of these!

  • @fruitaddict
    @fruitaddict 5 місяців тому +10

    Great video as usual ! All our best wishes from New Caledonia and hope to see you guys again anytime soon. Audrey & Vincent

    • @ferretyluv
      @ferretyluv 5 місяців тому

      You haven’t evacuated yet? The country’s in civil war!

  • @natashapowell9445
    @natashapowell9445 5 місяців тому +4

    My daughter and I love to eat crystallized ginger. This was so interesting, thank you for covering one of my favorites!

  • @yfrontsguy
    @yfrontsguy 5 місяців тому +7

    Fabulous episode! One of your best yet !! I was in Marseille last weekend & though ot you with all the exotic spices for sale. I bought black cardamom & grains of paradise amongst other things. I grow Zingiber mioga also. A real fun family of tastes !

  • @Kaotiqua
    @Kaotiqua 3 місяці тому +2

    "Grains of paradise" was a very popular medieval spice. Galangal that you showed at the start is actually the plant that produces it. I find it to be very floral, and slightly peppery.

  • @alaskansummertime
    @alaskansummertime 5 місяців тому +3

    I used to do landscaping on Big Island, Hawaii. People would put this in their yards necessitating me and my boss taking multiples of loads of the cut stuff to the greenwaste in a single day. I can still smell it years later. It penetrates your senses like nothing else. I still chew some on a regular basis to combat intestinal parasites and other ailments.

  • @bluesteno64
    @bluesteno64 3 місяці тому +2

    This is awesome! All the research and effort put into your videos has made them a staple of mine for YEARS!!! I really hope we get more of these longer videos in the future.

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  3 місяці тому +1

      That's the goal! Sunday's video will be kinda like this one

    • @bluesteno64
      @bluesteno64 3 місяці тому

      @@WeirdExplorer Thanks man! I’ll keep an eye out for it today

  • @e.k.3820
    @e.k.3820 5 місяців тому +4

    Love the content for years now, this one a bit special!!
    The Masusa in 'Sranan' (Surinamese mix language) or Masoesa ('oe' is dutch like the 'u' in spanish) from Suriname is pronounced similar to Yakuza..Masusa. This also goes for the 'a' at the end.
    We have a lot of gingers even grown and wild in Suriname.

  • @roberttandy7701
    @roberttandy7701 5 місяців тому +6

    I really like this format. So much information on one subject. Cool and surprising.

  • @damianl2108
    @damianl2108 5 місяців тому +5

    When making the dough for Jamaican patties or any dough requiring a rich golden color, fresh turmeric is the best. Just sliced it thin, dehydrated then ground to a powder. Gave a very unique color and amazing flavor, the store bought powdered stuff doesn't compare.

  • @SeeNyuOG
    @SeeNyuOG 5 місяців тому +2

    I could imagine theres plenty ginger but dude. So much variety. I've just became a big ginger fan

  • @Somedude20282
    @Somedude20282 5 місяців тому +3

    You're one of my people!! Some people look at me like I have a second head when I say somethong smells like x tastes or tastes like x smells

  • @ashliecameron492
    @ashliecameron492 2 місяці тому

    My 8yo autistic son found this video last night trying to find out what crabapples were and he watched the whole thing. He was so invested. I want to thank you. You’ve given him a script for how to try new foods and he asked if we could make videos of him trying new fruits. This has been a daily struggle with him trying to get him to eat enough and not be so afraid of trying new foods. I know your target audience isn’t 8yo autistic kids, but thank you for sharing your fruit tasting adventures. It’s inspired my kiddo to branch out and he’s tried strawberry and raspberry tonight ❤

    • @DH-xw6jp
      @DH-xw6jp Місяць тому

      I hope your little guy's tasting adventures go well and broaden his list of favorites.

  • @siggyincr7447
    @siggyincr7447 5 місяців тому +14

    Yeah, I'm gonna say that anyone claiming that you can eat any part from any member of the Zingiberaceae family is nuts. It's a huge family and bound to have some members that have developed chemical defenses that are potent against mammals too. Keep in mind that most of what we humans enjoy as spices are chemical compounds that plants evolved to be toxic to something. So be careful when trying things that aren't commonly consumed in their native range. Human's have had a tendency to get very adventurous with trying to eat everything that grows around us. So if a culture hasn't embraced something as a food/spice that was common in their environment, odds are it's because it's either not good for you or not pleasant.
    I have torch ginger in my garden and might have to give it a try.

    • @alveolate
      @alveolate 2 місяці тому

      there's also always the possibility of some novel allergic reaction... im guessing these guys had access to medical help if they needed it?

  • @Dystopix
    @Dystopix 5 місяців тому +18

    The licorice-flavored seeds would probably be a hit in Scandinavia, send a boatload or two to start with. 🚢

    • @benibear2995
      @benibear2995 5 місяців тому +3

      I was immediately "I want to taste that!".. what is wrong with us scandis? :D

    • @ankhi3585
      @ankhi3585 5 місяців тому +4

      Seeing as it's used in Suriname you'd think we (Dutch) would have found a use for it considering the shared passion for licorice.

    • @benibear2995
      @benibear2995 5 місяців тому +1

      @meisteremm absolutely (absinthe not as much maybe), and many of the liquorice/aniseed-y digestifs etc too :)

    • @hollyrotnes8743
      @hollyrotnes8743 5 місяців тому

      Gammeldansk. Which means old Danish is the prototype

  • @tetukotuko5431
    @tetukotuko5431 5 місяців тому +3

    That mystery ginger is called Topah or Petiti i think. It grows underground. Its often sold already peeled from the outer skin, because theyre covered in dirt . Its a seasonal fruit in borneo

  • @chaimkatz2002
    @chaimkatz2002 День тому

    Does this guy ever produce a bad video? Like ever? Every single video I've ever seen on this channel has been fascinating and enlightening.

  • @kimnoir
    @kimnoir 5 місяців тому +6

    Discovered your channel recently. Love your videos -- it's like streaming an unknown archive or log I never knew I needed!
    I never knew tumeric was a member of the ginger family but they do look similar (although looks can be deceiving)!

    • @kimnoir
      @kimnoir 5 місяців тому +3

      Just realized I started and ended two sentences with "I never knew". Your cat needs to make more cameos in videos by the way. I can recognize their talent.

  • @dannym2359
    @dannym2359 3 місяці тому +1

    I knew exactly how you would react to the galangal, I did the same thing. I sliced my up very thin then dehydrated it and turned it into a powder for nasi goreng. I also like to put it in my rice cooker to give my rice a nice little kick of flavor sometimes.

  • @HowlettHill
    @HowlettHill 5 місяців тому +3

    I appreciate the work and time you have put into this video. Excellent and so, so interesting.

  • @TheeIntrepidTaurayon
    @TheeIntrepidTaurayon 2 місяці тому +1

    OMG that kitty is sassy and adorable 😍

  • @dxsmachina
    @dxsmachina 5 місяців тому +3

    I had to look it up to be sure, but the one rhizome type tuber I love to eat is the Sunchoke. Which is in the same family as a sunflower. It's really crunchy raw with a mild flavor, but when you cook it the flavor changes and it smells and tastes like artichokes! It can make you gassy though so eat them in moderation at first.

  • @ralphmueller3725
    @ralphmueller3725 5 місяців тому +2

    Just want to say thank you. You've opened my eyes to some awesome stuff!! been seeking out and learning to grow a number of things you've covered! keep up the great work!

  • @ivy_47
    @ivy_47 5 місяців тому +3

    Gingers are pretty closely related to bananas and now I'm really seeing it with these flowers and fruits. Cool stuff!

  • @TurtleKittyJess
    @TurtleKittyJess 2 місяці тому +1

    Facinating, I had no idea there were so many species of ginger let alone how much of the plant is edible!

  • @lairdcummings9092
    @lairdcummings9092 5 місяців тому +4

    SO *MUCH* I didn't know about Ginger!

  • @myriamvalentin4
    @myriamvalentin4 5 місяців тому +1

    I learned a ton about ginger thanks to you. Thank you so much for your research and explanation! The flowers, the seeds, the fruit....... amazing.

  • @MazTheMeh16
    @MazTheMeh16 5 місяців тому +3

    13:37 theres an elderflower+lemon fanta that tastes like lemon soap smells and its great

  • @MSDKLZE
    @MSDKLZE 5 днів тому

    @Weird Explorer - Your kitty is just precious. The single-paw buiscuit-making is so adorable.

  • @JTMusicbox
    @JTMusicbox 5 місяців тому +5

    This video is more ginger than Giligan’s Island!

  • @SarahDibie
    @SarahDibie 2 місяці тому +1

    I'd love to hear your stories

  • @DevynCairns
    @DevynCairns 5 місяців тому +2

    Myoga is really nice. I really love it

  • @flamethrowex
    @flamethrowex 5 місяців тому +2

    I'm fortunate enough to be in an area of Australia where the other blue ginger you mentioned is native to (Brisbane area), and there's a native plants nursery/conservation group that sells the plants and others as seedlings. I have two in pots and am trying to figure out how to get them to thrive now.

  • @lylelaney8270
    @lylelaney8270 5 місяців тому +5

    In Malaysia, the mango ginger is called Temu Pauh. Pauh is a type of mango but in Malaysia the word mango is referring to a specific type of mango.

    • @munirahbakar4123
      @munirahbakar4123 5 місяців тому +1

      Thanks! I was wondering if those two are the same because I've only ever heard about Temu Pauh.
      I know that fingerroot are called Temu Kunci in Malaysia.

  • @pttpforever
    @pttpforever 5 місяців тому +1

    This is great! A foodie/reaction type presentation several levels above what I've watched before! Love your sense of humor and simple but informative botany. Liked and Subscribed!

  • @hardshengpizi
    @hardshengpizi 5 місяців тому +3

    The variegated ginger is Alpinia zerumbet

  • @shockingdocumentaries4255
    @shockingdocumentaries4255 5 місяців тому +2

    Your cat is beautiful. I love the eyes.

  • @jeil5676
    @jeil5676 5 місяців тому +5

    Only a ginger can call another ginger, a ginger.

    • @Mikee512
      @Mikee512 5 місяців тому +2

      jinja pls

    • @jeil5676
      @jeil5676 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Mikee512 : )

    • @gonnabeayogi1445
      @gonnabeayogi1445 5 місяців тому +2

      😂 love it. gonna sing that in my head all night now x

  • @XY-uc1tw
    @XY-uc1tw 5 місяців тому +2

    It's very interesting, and thank you for huge effort that you put in these videos.

  • @WeirdExplorer
    @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +70

    More ginger episodes:
    Black Cardamom: ua-cam.com/video/IyfVE_j0wYo/v-deo.html
    Myoga ginger: ua-cam.com/video/S26ibPNa56g/v-deo.html
    Madagascar Wild Ginger: ua-cam.com/video/X_Q0riMQfv8/v-deo.html
    Mystery ginger from Borneo: ua-cam.com/video/KOXJ8hIAXmw/v-deo.html
    Torch Ginger: ua-cam.com/video/YFepoZOJ3Oc/v-deo.html

    • @KenFullman
      @KenFullman 5 місяців тому

      Your cat looks like a twin of my own cat. When we got him as a kitten, one of the names I suggested for him was "ginger" It was rejected by the rest of the family because he wasn't ginger. Although the cat we had before him was totally black, and of course I named him "spot"

    • @yapz6721
      @yapz6721 5 місяців тому

      Make a series of videos about fruits from all 28 states and 8 union territories of India you will get tons of subscribers, Indians love watching foreigners reacting to anything Indian also put (Indian fruit blank in the subtitle)

    • @RosannaPatruno
      @RosannaPatruno 5 місяців тому +1

      For the galangal, i used to make an infusion out of it ( when i have some ) and it’s milder

    • @kurniawantjandra590
      @kurniawantjandra590 5 місяців тому

      In Indonesia we mainly use 4 gingers for cooking: ginger, turmeric, galangal, and sand ginger (kencur). You should try sand ginger, its my favorite, but u should try it in dishes or at least in a sambal (chili dip).

    • @سلامكيفك-ز9خ
      @سلامكيفك-ز9خ 5 місяців тому

      By the pen and what they write,
      Divine wisdom, endless light,
      In Islam, the truth displayed,
      God’s existence, clear arrayed.
      From depths of cosmos, vast and grand,
      To smallest atom, His hidden hand,
      The Quran speaks of skies and earth,
      Life’s inception, universe’s birth.
      Embryonic forms, so precise,
      In Quran’s verses, we find the slice,
      Science catches up, it seeks to learn,
      In holy texts, clear truths discern.
      Splitting of the moon, a wondrous sight,
      History records this celestial light,
      A sign so clear, a prophet’s call,
      In Muhammad’s path, nothing small.
      Prophecies told in scriptures old,
      From Bible’s verse to Torah’s fold,
      Of one to come, a final seal,
      Muhammad’s truth, both strong and real.
      In Gospel’s words, and Hindus’ lore,
      A messenger, revered and more,
      From Mecca’s land, last prophet shown,
      To guide all paths to God’s own throne.
      In lineage pure, the Twelve Imams,
      Guided by God, with open arms,
      Ali, the first, the gate of lore,
      With wisdom vast, none can ignore.
      Hasan, patience in his heart,
      A peace-maker, his noble art,
      Husayn, the martyr, Karbala’s name,
      With sacrifice, his eternal fame.
      Ali Zayn al-Abidin stands,
      Prayer and tears in his hands,
      Muhammad al-Baqir, knowledge deep,
      In sciences, he made great leaps.
      Jafar as-Sadiq, truth so bright,
      In jurisprudence, his guiding light,
      Musa al-Kadhim, in patience strong,
      Imprisoned, yet his faith lifelong.
      Ali ar-Ridha, compassionate call,
      In Persia’s land, loved by all,
      Muhammad al-Taqi, the virtuous youth,
      In piety, he stood for truth.
      Ali al-Hadi, with wisdom kind,
      Guided hearts and strengthened mind,
      Hasan al-Askari, pure and just,
      With faith and hope, his soul entrust.
      The twelfth, Mahdi, hidden now,
      Will return, fulfill his vow,
      Justice will reign, oppression cease,
      World in harmony, truth and peace.
      From ancient lands, prophecies swift,
      Of leaders pure, in Islamic gift,
      Their lives reflect, the prophet’s way,
      In every step, in night and day.
      Proofs abound in earth and skies,
      In nature's book, no disguise,
      Existence grand, beyond our reach,
      In every star, God’s love does teach.
      So here, in faith, with hearts aligned,
      With clear mind and soul refined,
      Islam’s beacon, forever bright,
      Guiding all in this sacred light.

  • @juls7403
    @juls7403 5 місяців тому +2

    24:50 the sap from shampoo ginger is used as shampoo/soap. Either by blending up the cones or "milking" by gently squeazing the sap out of them. "Milking", if done correctly, allows the cone to refill with more liquid. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone using it like a loofah lol

  • @johndodge8999
    @johndodge8999 5 місяців тому +2

    I grow many of these in Florida.

  • @loganlogon3720
    @loganlogon3720 5 місяців тому +2

    I'd be thrilled to see a Vostok cuddling video, and I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment!😍

  • @Psysium
    @Psysium 5 місяців тому +7

    Have you made laksa? I'm looking for a vegetarian recipe of it and was wondering if you had any preferences.
    Very cool video! My mom walked by just as I finished watching and I was able to go, "Hey, did you know x things about ginger???" So thanks for that! 😁

  • @sunnyquinn3888
    @sunnyquinn3888 5 місяців тому +1

    Those Torch Ginger flowers 🌷 🌷 🌷 are pretty, if they weren't hard to get I would put them in a vase for decoration!

  • @TheAmmu21
    @TheAmmu21 5 місяців тому +17

    We have mango ginger in south india as well.😊

    • @wolfgangkranek376
      @wolfgangkranek376 5 місяців тому +5

      Interesting. I looked it up: Curcuma amada

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  5 місяців тому +7

      That looks like it!

    • @ameythegooner
      @ameythegooner 5 місяців тому +2

      Quite common in Maharashtra state as well. Very commonly used for making pickles.

    • @TaLeng2023
      @TaLeng2023 5 місяців тому

      ​@@ameythegoonerdoes it smell like mango?

    • @gohansesshomaru8400
      @gohansesshomaru8400 5 місяців тому

      ​​@@TaLeng2023 smells faintly like raw mango, tastes almost exactly like a raw mango with zero sourness, which is different from ripe mangoes. The taste can be described as similar to resin, pine needles or turpentine. The closest thing I've tasted similar to raw mango and mango ginger is 'dog fennel'.(I once tasted only a tiny bit of dog fennel as it's generally considered unsafe for regular human consumption)

  • @uelld.8371
    @uelld.8371 5 місяців тому +2

    A bit info on the 'torch ginger flower,' it's actually the flower of the 'galangal' ginger. It usually has two flower, male which is the one used where it grow from the roots/ground, and the female that produce the fruit -(not sure the edibility)- where it is formed at the end of the stems of the plant.

  • @gatomaru
    @gatomaru 5 місяців тому +3

    Great episode!
    More kitty please!

  • @whatUneverknew
    @whatUneverknew 2 місяці тому +2

    Him make sly floor biscuit. ❤️

  • @djdrack4681
    @djdrack4681 5 місяців тому

    I enjoy the various ethnic/regional cuisines and all the varieties of dishes that come with local fruits/veg.
    I look at supermarkets as 'survivors' of a bad 'filter system' where only 1 in 10,000 of a given variety of cultivars make it to mass-cultivation. NOT because they're the best tasting, usually because of size/aesthetics.
    People like you, the dude that has saved 1000s of apple cultivars, etc are helping to shed light on what many in less developed countries know as 'their food' but you'll never see in a supermarket. Good work

  • @janosagoston123
    @janosagoston123 5 місяців тому +2

    The mystery ginger is Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata' (Variegated shell ginger).

  • @better.better
    @better.better 5 місяців тому +1

    sarsaparilla is also a member of the ginger family, I tried a berry... looked and felt like a large blueberry, firm enough, but tasted like it was maybe overripe, but maybe they just taste like that. descriptions I saw I suggested there might be a process to make it taste better, or that there was a way to prepare it prior to eating it, however this was not elaborated on and in fact left extremely vague

  • @abcd4567o8
    @abcd4567o8 5 місяців тому +7

    19:31 🐈‍⬛ (Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata') Shell Ginger in Ginger Family (Zingiberaceae)

  • @elizabethjames213
    @elizabethjames213 2 місяці тому

    Hello I watch your channel all the time and really appreciate your help with us knowing all the various species of the plant World. I hope you will visit us in Jamaica soon. Nuff nuff love❤

    • @WeirdExplorer
      @WeirdExplorer  2 місяці тому +1

      I got to visit Jamaica in 2018. It is a beautiful country with so many kind and generous people. There's a playlist on the channel somewhere with all the fruit I found 🙂

  • @janeteholmes
    @janeteholmes 5 місяців тому +6

    I’m off to Borneo in a few weeks, so I’ll look for it while I’m searching for every kind of durian I can find! Thx! The flowers I mean.

  • @johnliberty3647
    @johnliberty3647 3 місяці тому

    I collect gingers for my shade garden. It’s just a nice plant to have around. Haven’t taste tested a lot of them. Keeping them alive is my current goal. Butterfly ginger grows the easiest and spreads the fastest. Tolerates direct sun but thrives in shade like most or all ginger