“Ginger is one of the healthiest spices in the world, so many people want it in whole or powdered form. This is because ginger has benefits on the body when consumed regularly, including treating digestive problems, cardiovascular disorders, nausea, and diabetes mellitus.”

In the past, for centuries, Indonesia, including North Sumatra, was known as the “Spice Islands” or “Nusantara” due to the abundance of spices. However, today, spices have been surpassed by coffee, rubber, and palm oil.

Despite being replaced by coffee, rubber, and palm oil, there are still farmers in North Sumatra who cultivate spice plants such as candlenut, andaliman, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and especially ginger, which is believed to boost the immune system and prevent Covid-19.

Ginger is believed to have originated in the Asia-Pacific region, from India to China. These two countries are said to be the first to use ginger, mainly as a drink, seasoning, and traditional medicine.

Ginger belongs to the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), which includes other ginger relatives such as Cucuma xanthorrizha, Curcuma aeruginosa, Curcuma domestica, Kaempferia galanga, Languas galanga, and others.

Export of Ginger from North Sumatra

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of North Sumatra, almost all districts and cities produce ginger, but Simalungun Regency and Toba Samosir Regency are the largest ginger producers, accounting for about 37% and 32% of the total export, or around 7,263 tons, respectively.

Ginger exports by farmers are shipped through two ports, namely Teluknibung Tanjung Balai and Belawan.

Ginger shipped through Teluknibung Port is usually destined for neighboring countries, such as Malaysia, while from Belawan, it is exported not only to Malaysia but also to Singapore, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Exporting ginger is promising. From the quarantine system record, IQFAST in the Teluknibung area alone, a total of 330.2 tons of ginger was exported in 2019, with an economic value of Rp2.1 billion, destined for Malaysia. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that caused a lockdown in Malaysia, ginger exports to Malaysia in 2020 were only once, with an economic value of only Rp10 million. But along with that, the domestic demand for ginger also increased during the pandemic.

Simalungun Regency as Ginger Center

Although several districts and cities produce ginger, Simalungun is the center of ginger commodity in North Sumatra, producing the largest and best ginger that is highly appreciated by other countries. Besides being large in size, ginger from Simalungun is also spicy. Due to its large size, ginger in Simalungun is called Elephant Ginger.

According to the USU Student Journal by Juanita Malau in 2016, Simalungun Regency is the largest ginger producer in North Sumatra, with 11 sub-districts being ginger-producing areas in Simalungun. From the 11 sub-districts, three sub-districts have the highest ginger production in Simalungun, namely Dolok Pardamean, Raya, and Pematang Sidamanik.

In the Pematang Sidamanik sub-district, the sub-district with the highest ginger production is the Sipolha Horison Village. Meanwhile, in Raya Sub-District, it is Nagori Dolog Huluan and Silau Huluan, and in Dolok Pardamean Sub-District, it is Nagori Parjalangan.

The two subdistricts with the highest ginger production in the Simalungun Regency are Nagori Silau Huluan and Dolog Pardamean, making them the central areas for ginger production. Simalungun Regency is one of the regions that cultivate medicinal plants such as ginger, turmeric, temulawak, and kencur. This is supported by the fact that the area is very suitable for cultivating medicinal plants. However, among the cultivated plants, ginger is the primary commodity of medicinal plants developed. The development of ginger is considered to have more benefits than other medicinal plants.

In addition to being exported, ginger can also be processed into powder. However, ginger processing has not been found in Simalungun. Instead, ginger processing is carried out by home-based craftsmen. Some of the processed ginger products include ginger drink powder, ginger candy, and bandrek beverage.

Bandrek is a famous ginger brew in North Sumatra. It is a ginger brew (either grated or mashed) cooked with cinnamon sticks. Usually, it is mixed with cinnamon sticks and is generally sold in areas with a high enough air temperature, such as Simalungun, Toba, Pematangsiantar, Berastagi, and others.

Benefits of ginger for health:

What are the special benefits of ginger for the body? There is some interesting evidence regarding the benefits of ginger. According to a journal in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, ginger has the potential to treat several diseases, including degenerative disorders (arthritis and rheumatism).

According to the journal above, ginger can also treat digestive problems (constipation and stomach ulcers), cardiovascular disorders (atherosclerosis and hypertension), vomiting, and diabetes mellitus. The following are some of the benefits that need to be known:

1. Anti-aging and Cancer; Ginger is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which can control the aging process. According to the journal above, although the potential of ginger as an anti-cancer has been well documented, the benefits of ginger for cancer still need further research before claiming its effectiveness.
2. Relieving Menstrual Pain Regularly consuming ginger water can help reduce pain during menstruation. The benefits of ginger are said to be not much different from ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. The effect of ginger on the stomach is said to be able to provide a calming effect on pain.
3. Lowering Blood Glucose and Cholesterol; Regular consumption of ginger can also lower LDL cholesterol (bad fat), triglycerides, and increase HDL (good fat).
4. Strengthening the Immune System; Ginger contains a lot of vitamin C and magnesium. These contents help the body to strengthen the immune system. In addition to these two substances, ginger also contains gingerols, shogaols, and zingerones that can function as antioxidants for the body.
5. Preventing Bacterial and Viral Infections; The benefits of ginger can also help the body prevent certain bacterial and viral infections. How is this possible? The gingerol content in ginger is believed to inhibit bacterial infections, such as shigella, E. coli, and others. Ginger can also prevent DNA damage and stress. Even the benefits of regularly drinking ginger can help relieve colds and flu.
6. Relieving Muscle Pain; Ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect that is also beneficial for reducing muscle pain. However, many sources say that relieving muscle pain is a benefit of red ginger.
7. Relieving Morning Sickness; According to a study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, ginger is beneficial in relieving morning sickness symptoms in early pregnancy. Ginger root extract has been used for more than two thousand years to treat digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, and belching.
8. Treating Digestive Problems; Another benefit of red ginger is its ability to treat and prevent digestive problems. It is believed that the oil extract can treat stomach pain due to its antibacterial properties. Digestive disorders generally occur due to harmful bacteria entering the body, so consuming ginger is suitable as an antithesis.

Source : https://mistar.id/opini/menelusuri-jejak-jahe-di-simalungun-sumatera-utara/