Ginger processing
Practical Action
Packaging
Bulk rhizomes can be packed in jute sacks, wooden boxes or lined corrugated cardboard boxes
for shipping. Dry slices or powder are packaged in multi-wall laminated bags. Some laminates
are better than others due to film permeability. The packaging material should be impermeable
to moisture and air. Sealing machines can be used to seal the bags. Attractive labels should be
applied to the products. The label needs to contain all relevant product and legal information –
the name of the product, brand name (if appropriate), details of the manufacturer (name and
address), date of manufacture, expiry date, weight of the contents, added ingredients (if relevant)
plus any other information that the country of origin and of import may require (a barcode,
producer code and packer code are all extra information that is required in some countries to
help trace the product back to its origin). See the Practical Action Technical Brief on labelling
for further information on labelling requirements.
Storage
Dried rhizomes, slices and splits should be stored in a cool place (10-15°C). At higher
temperatures (23-26°C) the flavour compounds start to deteriorate and ginger loses some of its
taste and aroma. The storage room should be dry and away from the direct sunlight. During
storage the rhizomes should be protected from attack by insects and other pests. Natural
pesticides such as the leaves of Glycosmis pentaphylla or Azadirachta indica can be added to the
rhizomes to prevent damage from the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricome).
The storage room should be clean, dry, cool and free from pests. Mosquito netting should be
fitted on the windows to prevent pests and insects from entering the room. Strong smelling
foods, detergents and paints should not be stored in the same room.
Ginger oil distillation
Ginger oil can be produced from fresh or dried rhizomes. Oil from the dried rhizomes will
contain fewer of the low boiling point volatile compounds (the compounds that give ginger its
flavour and aroma) as these will have evaporated during the drying process. The best ginger oil
is obtained from whole rhizomes that are unpeeled.
Ginger oil is obtained using a process of steam distillation. The dried rhizomes are ground to a
coarse powder and loaded into a still. Steam is passed through the powder, which extracts the
volatile oil components. The steam is then condensed with cold water. As the steam condenses,
the oils separate out of the steam water and can be collected. In India the material is re-distilled
to get the maximum yield of oil. The yield of oil from dried ginger rhizomes is between 1.5 to
3.0%. The remaining rhizome powder contains about 50% starch and can be used for animal
feed. It is sometimes dried and ground to make an inferior spice. For further information see the
Practical Action Technical Brief on Essential oil distillation.
Equipment suppliers
This is a selective list of suppliers of equipment and does not imply endorsement by Practical
Action.
This website includes lists of companies in India who supply food processing equipment.
http://www.niir.org/directory/tag/z,,1b_0_32/fruit+processing/index.html
Dryers
Acufil Machines
S. F. No. 120/2, Kalapatty Post Office
Coimbatore - 641 035
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: +91 422 2666108/2669909
Fax: +91 422 2666255
Email: acufilmachines@yahoo.co.in
acufilmachines@hotmail.com
Website:
http://www.indiamart.com/acufilmachines/#
products
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