The Ginger People - a Ginger Lover's Heaven

It's hard to be addicted to ginger. The average grocery store only carries the root which you have to cook and cut. This can be disastrous if you're not familiar with ginger's potency. You could be slicing off big hunks and turning a potentially delicious dinner into a four alarm fire. Not to worry There is a company for our kind (yes, I too, am madly in love with anything ginger). It's called The Ginger People and it can satisfy any of our cravings.

The Ginger People, a division of Royal Pacific, is a company that sells nothing but ginger products. This family owned business first started in 1984 and has factories both in Australia and California. Consumers get the best of fresh cut ginger and you can taste it in all their products. Some quality stores such as Williams and Sonoma , Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Cost Plus World Market on line sell some Ginger People products but not always. My nearest Williams and Sonoma has proved to be erratic with their shipments for the crystalized ginger chips. I found my best bet is ordering it on line. The easy to navigate site has everything I want and ordering is quick and fun.

What to get at this most amazing place? Everything. Besides it pays to have ginger in the house. It helps aid in digestion plus is great for combating nausea and tummy aches. Colonial Americans ate ginger on a regular basis as an after dinner digestive and it does work. If you're a new to the spice, or even a bit hesitant then start with the Baker's Cut crystallized ginger chips. These are great on their own with the sugar combining with the ginger's heat to form a unique taste. I love putting mine in tea, especially when my stomach gets turbulent. The ginger not only flavors the tea but leaves yummy tea soaked bits at the end. You can buy a the 7 oz. tin for only $5.00. These can also be used in cookies and fruit pies for an extra kick. The Ginger People also have a Valentine's Day version called Ginger Sweeties that are heart shaped slices of baby ginger. This is a perfect accompaniment to any Valentine's Day dessert. These come in a reusable glass jar for only $&.00 for 6.7 oz. You can also buy the crystallized ginger in button and medallion sizes in bulk bags starting at $16.00 for 2 lbs, $35.00 for 5 lb and $65.00 for 10 lbs (you really have to be a ginger lover to buy the last). The pieces are good in flavoring Ginger-tinis. Ginger Chews are another great product , with more emphasis on the root than the sugar. Think salt water taffy with a kick. These hot , little pieces are sweet, spicy and chewy doubling as palate cleanser and a tummy soother after a rich meal. They're also a good price at $2.00 for a 3 oz bag. You can buy them in the original pure flavor or try the zesty apple flavored or test the peanut ginger ones. A 5.5 oz tin is only $6.00 for all three flavors however you'll become quickly addicted so buy the larger 2 lb bags at $12.00 (there are also 5 lbs at $22.00 and 10 lbs. at $40.00, great if you have a whole family of addicts). What's great about Ginger Chews is that they are a low calorie snack with each piece having only .5 grams of fat.

If you're looking for more decadent ginger, you can also find it here. The Ginger People make a sinful confection called "L"Ecstasi Dolci" (Sweet Ecstasy in Italian) made from pureed peanuts and crystallized ginger enrobed in dark chocolate. This would make an unusual Valentine's Day gift costing $10.00 for six seductive pieces. You can also buy chocolate covered ginger. These are bite sized nuggets of young stem ginger coated in dark chocolate. A sampler bag is $3.00 for 4.5 while an 8 oz bag is $6.00 If you find you can't live without them, then order the 1 lb. bag for $10.50 or the 2 lb. Bag for $19.50.

Ginger not only makes a great sweet but also a great spice. It is the mainstay in Asian cooking, adding heat and zest to dishes through out the Orient. The Ginger People want their customers to recreate that and have several marinades and sauces to help you do just that. There are eight different kinds to choose from and they fit any type of dish from stir fry to barbecue. If you're looking to liven up your seafood then try the Sweet Ginger Chili . It is sweet, spicy and hot combining ginger and chilis into a taste bud jolting dip. If you're looking for zesty marinades then try the Ginger Jerk or the Ginger Lime. The first will give sweet, tangy heat to any meat in true Caribbean style while the second gives a citrus infused zing to stir fries. If you're a big outdoor griller, then stock up on The Ginger People's Ginger Hickory Sauce and marinade. It will liven up ribs and burgers as well as making a memorable chicken marinade. Salad lovers will go crazy for the Ginger Lemon Grass Dressing and Cooking Sauce. This is a great heart healthy addition to your greens. It's made of ginger , canola oil sea salt, crushed garlic and lemon grass. For a more Eastern flavor try the Ginger Peanut Sauce perfect for satays or as a dipping sauce to pot stickers. Ginger Wasabi sauce is a potent but delicious blend of ginger and green wasabi mustard, perfect for livening up Saturday lunch time sandwiches. You can also try the Ginger Sesame sauce which doubles as richly flavored vinaigrette and marinade. The best part about these sauces is that they are only $5.00 for 12.7 fl. Oz. If you're into gourmet cooking and entertaining. , stock up on them

What to drink with your ginger infused creations? Why ginger beer of course! The Ginger People has two kinds of this longtime British classic. Try either the sparkly tang of regular ginger beer or the interesting lemon ginger. I've tried the first and recommend it as an alternative to regular sodas and root beers. A four pack of either flavor is just $5.95 plus $1.00 extra added to the shipping costs. Along with these the company has cookies. There are the buttery and hot Scottish shortbreads that can be bought in the trial size of 5.3 oz for $3.00 or 10 bars for $10.00. There are also the expected ginger snaps which are not your grandmother's homey creation. These thin, crispy wafers pack a punch and are $5.00 for a small 9 oz. package. There are also ginger and pumpkin ginger biscotti - a new spin on the classic Italian cookie. These sell for $9.00 for the plain while the pumpkins ones are $12.00 if you're indecisive about what to get the Ginger People also offers a sampler pack for only $12.00

By now you know that ginger is good for treating nausea and stomach problems; however it is also good for treating colds and headaches. The company has created a power drink chock full of antioxidants with ingredients like Chinese yellow ginger, honey and lemon. This tasty concoction will get you through the cold and flu ingested months without feeling a thing. You can order six medium sized bottles for $1.00 a pack. Another good item to have are Gin Gins. These are hard ginger candies similar to sourballs and can help you ward off the effects of motion sickness. People have been known to carry these on cruises and long airplane trips as boosters to fortify and soothe them through the long rides ahead. You can buy Gin Gins for only $2.00 for the 3 oz. sample pack. If you're a frequent flyer then invest in the larger sizes such as 1.5 lbs. For $18.00, and the 10 lbs for $32. There will be the turbo version , Gin Gin Boosts coming out March 1st 2007.

If you're a total Ginger People fan, then order their cute tee shirts with the ginger root man , The kid's' version goes for $17.50 while the adult sizes go for $20.00. The site has free recipes as well and you can find anything and everything from breakfast to cocktails to dinner ideas.

Go to The Ginger People if you're a fellow addict looking for a fix. They have everything from candies to sauces, from cookies and yes, even clothing. You'll have your cravings satisfied and your palate tickled with their unusual but healthy products