Urtekram Sweet Ginger Flower
"Go where the pepper grows" is a German saying from the Middle Ages that has survived in numerous variations to this day. Over the centuries, however, it has lost much of its original harshness. As late as the 15th century, it was synonymous with "goodbye forever". For "the country where the pepper grows" was India. And for the people of the Middle Ages, this mysterious country lay at the very edge of the earth. India was not only unimaginably far away, but also supposed to be fabulously rich. The people there dressed in silk, and the most precious spices grew by the roadside. Anyone who wanted to travel to this wondrous land had to cross raging rivers, hot deserts and rocky mountains. Also, there was a constant risk of encountering robbers and wild animals. Even experienced caravan leaders needed more than a year for the dangerous journey. The risks and hardships involved in transporting the spices were naturally reflected in the price. From ancient times until the 17th century, Indian spices were an unaffordable luxury for most Europeans.
It is still unclear why the popular expression only referred to pepper and not also ginger. Ginger roots were originally imported from India in similar quantities as peppercorns. The Roman emperors were already very fond of both spices. Pepper was used to spice meat dishes and ginger gave wine a spicy, exotic touch. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the two spices quickly went their separate ways in Europe. Pepper developed into a sought-after commodity. And many cities, above all Venice, owed their prosperity in large part to the trade in pepper. That is why rich merchants were also called "pepper sacks" in the late Middle Ages.
While pepper rose to become the most popular spice in Europe, ginger was mainly found in pharmacies and in the medicine cabinets of monasteries. Already in the writings of ancient physicians, ginger was recommended against headaches and gastrointestinal afflictions. Because of its pungency, it was also said to have vitalising and potency-enhancing powers. This is why ginger was the basic ingredient for starch potions, antidotes and aphrodisiacs in many cultures. In the European cuisine of the last centuries, however, ginger was hardly to be found. Only in Great Britain was it part of the traditional national cuisine as a seasoning for drinks and pastries. Since the end of the 20th century, however, interest in ginger has also been growing in the western world. More and more people prefer dishes with the exotic aroma of the spicy tuber.
In Asia, Ginger oil has been extracted from the ginger root for thousands of years. In traditional Chinese medicine, it was used to treat everything from arthritis to toothache. Only a few people outside the tropics know about the beautiful exotic flowers of ginger. The up to 25 cm egg-shaped bracts resemble a deep red crown. Meanwhile, natural cosmetics have also discovered this wonderful essential oil. The care series Sweet Ginger Flower by Urtekram invigorates the senses with the pleasant scent of ginger blossoms and cares for the skin with selected natural active ingredients. With its vitalising scent, the Sweet Ginger Flower Body Wash provides a refreshing start to the day. After showering, the Sweet Ginger Flower Body Lotion pampers the skin with an extra portion of moisture. Body oils are usually a little richer than body lotions. The Sweet Ginger Flower Dry Body Oil supports the care of dry skin with high-quality active ingredients and an exotic fragrance. Sweet Ginger Flower Hand Soap is a mild liquid soap for cleaning the hands. Afterwards, the Sweet Ginger Flower Hand Cream cares for stressed hands with an extra portion of moisture.
