*2.3. The Growing Popularity of Ginger*

Ginger is widely used for food processing in many forms, including as fresh ginger and dried ginger, as an oleoresin, as an essential oil, as an extract, or as a powder. The addition of ginger to food gives a spicy taste and serves as a natural antioxidant for shelf-life extension [72,73]. Furthermore, with many health-promoting properties supported by research evidence, it is not surprising that ginger is also a choice ingredient in various kinds of functional foods, such as candy, biscuits, herbal tea, and beverages, etc. Most notably, ginger candy is used to reduce the vomiting frequency among pregnant women in the first trimester [74]. Ginger tea, a spicy caffeine-free alternative to black tea or coffee, has also emerged as one of the most popular beverages in the world [75]. Ginger supplements also ranked 6th in the American top-selling herbal chart of the mainstream retail channels in 2020, with over USD 64 million in sales, a 39.3% growth compared to sales volume in 2019 [76]. Undeniably, the popularity of ginger as a functional food will continue to spread with the growing consumer awareness of its health benefits.
