An interesting debate! How do you prep for the start of your day? A cold shower (something Wim Hoff champions and our Research and Nutrition Lead, Ross does on the daily) and then head to the kitchen for a...
Ginger shot or
Coffee
Ginger shot or
Coffee
Let's delve into the two:
WHAT IS COFFEE?
Coffee beans come from the coffee plant, members of the botanical genus Coffea. The beans are sourced from inside the plant’s fruit (which are called cherries). On average it takes about a year for a cherry to mature and ripen so the bean can be harvested.
The small bushes (which are coffee trees and can grow to 9 metres) required mild temperatures, sufficient shade and lots of rain. As a result, they can only be productively grown in temperate areas of the world - in the Western hemisphere, that’s between Central Mexico in the north and the Amazon rain forest in the south. This is known as the coffee belt! There are small pockets of other places around the world that are also known for growing coffee including Mozambique (link), Ethiopia and Yemen.
Coffee is slightly acidic and somewhat bitter, and it’s known to have health benefits which include:
- Microbiome diversity
- Cognitive function
- Mild stimulant
WHAT IS GINGER?
Well, if we’re going for formal introductions, it is known as Zingiber Officinale [zing-ee-ber, oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee.] A popular flowering plant of the Zingiberaceae, it’s the proper title of this humble rhizome (a type of root) that’s been used as an Ayurvedic herb and tasty ingredient for thousands of years. Growing usually around 1.5-2.5cm thick underground and sprouting up to 100cm in height, its long, narrow leaves and conical flowers give it a bit more swag than the weird knobbly bit we know and love.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS GINGER LIKES TO GROW IN?
Ginger thrives in warm, humid conditions and it loves sunlight. But not too intense, so partial shade is needed when growing it in the tropics. Ginger needs a rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil.
MOJU'S GINGER
At MOJU we use yellow ginger from Peru in all our shots. Why? Well, we believe it to be a superior ginger root compared to the likes of the conventional ginger you can find elsewhere.
As well as being a fiery caffeine free kick, our combination of Peruvian ginger and acerola cherry mean that our ginger shots can help:
- Support immune function
- Reduce tiredness and fatigue
- Assist digestion (1, 2)
- Soothe nausea (1, 2, 5)
- Ease menstrual pain (3, 4)
- … even help with hangovers(!) (6)
SO, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?
Coffee and ginger shots both have functional benefits.
Coffee and ginger shots taste amazing!
One thing that separates them both is caffeine. This does have some negative effects for some people: it can cause health problems, such as:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
So, if you are after that caffeine free kick, ginger shots are for you!
Check out our full range of ginger shots and functional shots here!
