If we’re going for formal introductions, ginger 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.
Ginger thrives in warm, humid conditions. It needs sunlight – as long as it's not too intense – and soil that is rich, well-drained and moisture-retentive.
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.
Why Peruvian ginger is the most potent
At MOJU, we exclusively 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 give you a potent health kick.
Reported benefits of consuming high-quality ginger every day may include:
- 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)
How does coffee compare?
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 can grow to 9 metres) require mild temperatures, sufficient shade and lots of rain. As a result, they can only be productively grown in temperate areas of the world.
The so-called 'coffee belt' runs from Central Mexico to the Amazon rainforest, but there are other small pockets around the world, where you can find great coffee, including Mozambique, Ethiopia and Yemen.
Coffee is slightly acidic and somewhat bitter. It's a stimulant, but some people believe it has health benefits like improving microbiome diversity and cognitive function.
So, how do you choose?
Coffee and ginger shots both have functional benefits and we firmly believe that both taste amazing.
One thing that separates ginger shots from your morning espresso is caffeine.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can improve alertness, energy and focus, but if you over-do it, you may experience side effects like:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
There is no caffeine in a MOJU Ginger Shot. So, if you are after a fresh and natural kick without any crash, our ginger shots could help you curb your caffeine intake.