These plants threaten to smother the native forests here in the north of New Zealand!
Does anybody have any comments about the commercial use of these plants?
I've been told that ginger beer can't be made from these but they appear quite suitable. I also understand the seeds of H. gardnerianum or Kahili Ginger might be useful for oils.
You can experiment with any ginger as far as culinary purposes, I have many customers who try every rhizome,bloom and foliage can even be used for many things. Line steaming baskets with ginger foliage instead of banana leaves. You can boil the foliage and drink the liguid for abdominal pain, the juice in the pseudostems may be used to help reduce swelling. Rhizomes are even great as astringents. So many things can be dine with gingers, they're just so amazing :)
Liz
