Arab traders, in search of spices, took the term to Greece and Rome, and from there to the Western Europe. The Greeks called it dzinggiris, their version of Persian dzungebir, from Sanskrit srngaveram.
The present-day name of ginger in most Western European countries is derived from this ancient term.
Ginger is found in ancient Chinese, India and Middle Eastern literature and has long been valued for its aromatic, culinary and medicinal properties. Indians and Chinese are believed to have produced ginger as a tonic root for over 5000 years to treat many ailments.
The Persian trade mission Darius sent to India in the 5th century BC brought back ginger. The Indians used it lavishly, but it had only a limited success in Greece and Rome.
Because ginger had to be imported from Asia, it remained a relatively expensive spice. As early as second century AD, ginger was one among the very few items on which duty was levied at the Alexandria port of entry, during the time of the Roman Empire.
During subsequent periods and in the Middle Ages, ginger was on the list of privileged goods in the European trade, and a duty was levied. Nevertheless it was still in great demand. As a result, Spanish explorers introduced ginger to the West Indies, Mexico and South America in an effort to increase its availability.
History of ginger
