Ginger is a mundane edible plant with roots used to spice up potions.
- Cut ginger roots are used in Wit-Sharpening Potion.
- Minerva McGonagall kept Ginger Newt biscuits on her desk in her office, undoubtedly flavored with ginger spice (OP12,OP19).
- Harry thought Hagrid's Hut in the snow looked like a Gingerbread House (GF23)
"Ginger" is also a color often used to describe those with red hair, such as Ron Weasley and his siblings, as well as Mundungus Fletcher. Hermione's half-kneazle cat, Crookshanks has ginger fur.
Potions Connection
The roots are chopped for inclusion in Wit-Sharpening Potion
Commentary
Etymology
from Old English gingifer, from Medieval Latin gingiber
Notes
Ginger is a fragrant kitchen spice grown in Asia, Africa and Jamaica, and a well-known ingredient in Chinese and Indian cuisine. The plant Zingiber officinale spreads from the woody edible roots, which are dried and then ground for use. Often included in sweets, ginger is the tart flavor of ginger-ale and gingerbread. In folk medicine, ginger was said to help digestion and stop nausea. source: Wikipedia
From the Web
Ginger 101: Everything You Need to Know About this Fiery Foodstuff from the Happy Happy Vegan