Salabat (Ginger Brew)

What is Ginger?
Ginger is the common name for the monocotyledonous perennial plant Zingiber officinale. The term is also used to describe the edible part of the plant which is commonly used as an ingredient in cooking throughout the world. Often referred to as ginger "root", the edible section is actually a rhizome.

Ginger contains up to 3% of an essential oil that causes the fragrance of the spice. The main constituents are sesquiterpenoids with(-)-zingiberene as the main component. Lesser amounts of other sesquiterpenoids (β-sesquiphellandrene, bisabolene and farnesene) and a small monoterpenoid fraction (β-phelladrene, cineol, and citral)have also been identified.

The pungent taste of ginger is due to nonvolatile phenylpropanoid-derived compounds, particularly gingerols and shogaols. The latter are formed from the former when ginger is dried or cooked. Zingerone is also produced from gingerols during this process, and it is less pungent and has a spicy-sweet aroma. Ginger has a sialagogue action, stimulating the production of saliva.

Ludy's Ginger Brew (Salabat) is in the form of granules and is packed in jars or foil packs. This drink is made from carefully chosen ginger roots. Since olden times, ginger has been used to help cure colds, fever, stomach ache, and is a soothing remedy for rheumatism on cold nights and rainy days. A healthy breakfast beverage for the whole family too.

LUDY'S GINGER BREW SALABAT 12.7 oz
Ingredients: Ginger and Sugar




LUDY'S GINGER JUICE SALABAT W/ CALAMANSI 12.7 oz
Ingredients: Ginger, Sugar, Calamansi (Philippine Lemon)




GINGER PUNCH SALABAT W/ LEMON 12.7 oz
Ingredients: Ginger, Sugar, Lemon


Culinary Uses of Ginger
Young ginger rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. They are often pickled in sherry as a snack or just cooked as an ingredient in many dishes. They can also be stewed in boiling water to make ginger tea, to which honey is often added as a sweetener; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added. Mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from old ginger roots is extremely potent and is often used as a spice in Asian cuisine to flavor dishes such as seafood or mutton. Powdered dry ginger root (ginger powder) is typically used to add spiciness to gingerbread and other recipes. Fresh ginger can be successfully substituted for ground ginger and should be done at a ratio of 6 parts fresh for 1 part ground. Ginger is also made into candy and used as a flavoring for cookies, crackers and and is the main flavor in ginger ale - a sweet, carbonated, non-alcoholic beverage.

Medical Uses
The medical form of ginger historically was called "Jamaica ginger"; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines. Ginger is on the FDA's 'generally recognized as safe' list, though it does interact with some medications, including warfarin. Ginger is contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones as the herb promotes the release of bile from the gallbladder. Ginger may also decrease joint pain from arthritis, though studies on this have been inconsistent, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease.

Ginger has been found effective by multiple studies for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy,though ginger was not found superior over a placebo for post-operative nausea. However, consuming too much ginger can create a feeling of nausea in an individual.

Modern research on nausea and motion sickness used approximately 1 gram of ginger powder daily. Though there are claims for efficacy in all causes of nausea, the Physicians Desk Reference recommends against taking ginger rhizomes for morning sickness commonly associated with pregnancy due to possible mutagenic effects,though Chinese women have traditionally used ginger rhizomes during pregnancy to combat morning sickness and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that it is likely safe for use in pregnancy when consumed in food-amounts.

Folk Medicinal Uses
There are a variety of uses suggested for ginger. A tea brewed from the is a folk remedy for colds. Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as "stomach settlers" for generations in countries where the beverages are made and ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the US. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation, which some scientific studies support while others show ginger to be no better than a placebo or ibuprofen. Research on rats suggests that ginger may be useful for treating diabetes.

Local Uses
In the Philippines a traditional health drink called "salabat" is made for consumption with breakfast by boiling chopped ginger and adding sugar.

In the West, powdered dried ginger root is made into capsules and sold in pharmacies for medicinal use.

In the United States, ginger is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, though it is not approved for the treatment or cure of any disease and is sold as an unregulated dietary supplement.

In India, ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headache and consumed when suffering from a cold.

In Myanmar, ginger and a local sweetener made from palm tree juice (Htan nyat) are boiled together and taken to prevent the flu.

In China, a drink made with sliced ginger cooked in sweetened water or a cola is used as a folk medicine for common cold.

In Indonesia, a type of ginger known as Jahe is used as a herbal preparation to reduce fatigue, reducing "winds" in the blood, prevent and cure rheumatism and controlling poor dietary habits.

In Democratic Republic of the Congo, ginger is crushed and mixed with mango-tree sap to make Tangawisi juice, which is considered a universal panacea.

Allergic reactions to ginger generally result in a rash and though generally recognized as safe, ginger can cause heartburn, bloating, gas, belching and nausea, particularly if taken in powdered form. Unchewed fresh ginger may result in intestinal blockage, and individuals who have had ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or blocked intestines may react badly to large quantities of fresh ginger. Ginger can also adversely affect individuals with gallstones. There are also suggestions that ginger may affect blood pressure, clotting, and heart rhythms.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia