Myoga, myoga ginger or Japanese ginger (myōga (茗荷)) is the species Zingiber mioga in the family Zingiberaceae. It is a deciduous herbaceous perennial native to Japan, China, and the southern part of Korea.[1][2][3] Only its edible flower buds and flavorful shoots are used in cooking.[4] The flower buds are finely shredded and used in Japanese cuisine as a garnish for miso soup, sunomono, and dishes such as roasted eggplant. In Korean cuisine, the flower buds are skewered alternately with pieces of meat and then are pan-fried.[citation needed]
Myōga | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Zingiberales |
Family: | Zingiberaceae |
Genus: | Zingiber |
Species: | Z. mioga
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Binomial name | |
Zingiber mioga | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Cultivation
editA traditional crop in Japan, myoga ginger has been introduced to cultivation in Australia and New Zealand for export to the Japanese market.[3]
As a woodland plant, myoga has specific shade requirements for its growth. It is frost-tolerant to −16 °C (3 °F), and possibly colder.[3]
Three variegated cultivars are known: 'Dancing Crane', 'Silver Arrow' and 'White Feather'. They are less cold-hardy than unvariegated plants.[3]
Medicinal properties
editMyoga has shown promise for potentially anticarcinogenic properties.[5]
Gallery
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Plants
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Fruits with red interiors and black seeds with a whitish aril
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Buds prepared for sale
References
edit- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Flora of China v 24 p 332, 蘘荷 rang he, Zingiber mioga (Thunberg) Roscoe, Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 8: 348. 1807.
- ^ a b c d Cole TCH, Nürnberger S "Zingiber mioga and its Cultivars," The Plantsman. Royal Horticultural Society. December 2014, 4: 226-229.
- ^ Matsuhisa, Nobu and Mark Edwards. (2007). Nobu West, p. 252.
- ^ Ha Won Kim et al. "Suppressive Effects of Mioga Ginger and Ginger Constituents on Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Generation, and the Expression of Inducible Pro-Inflammatory Genes in Macrophages," Antioxidants & Redox Signaling. November/December 2005, 7(11-12): 1621-1629; retrieved 2013-8-4.
External links
edit- Data related to Zingiber mioga at Wikispecies
- Media related to Zingiber mioga at Wikimedia Commons