A G & T FROM THE GRANNY MOUSE GARDENS IS A PERFECT COLD CURE
Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, nestled in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, is your home-away-from-home. Not only does is it offer breathtaking views, fabulous food and luxury accommodation, but the gardens leave guests inspired, ready to transform their own when getting back home.
Not only are the gardens pristine, colourful and beautiful to look at, but they are also functional, especially their food gardens.
This winter, the gardeners at Granny Mouse are introducing the perfect pair – a G & T (and no we’re not talking about gin and tonic), but rather about the ancient spice and perennial herb that belong to the Zingiberaceae family – Ginger and Turmeric.
Although each is great alone, they’re even better together. Their union has been flaunted and it’s no wonder as they prove to be a potent combination especially when it comes to cold-pressed immunity shots that have gained extreme popularity since the COVID outbreak.
GINGER
Ginger also goes by the name of Zingiber officinale. It is the star ingredient in gingerbread, ginger ale and speculaas, plus an accompaniment to sushi. If the sheer enjoyment of it all isn’t enough, there is also the medicinal benefits. It has been known to boost the immune system, thus relieving seasonal coughs and colds. Come flu season, ginger will be infused in a variety of homemade concoctions due to its antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is often used in detox diets as it aids in weight loss and reportedly helps with indigestion too.
TUMERIC
Turmeric- curcuma longa- has a long-standing history with Ayurveda and India. Long ago, it was used by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans as food, natural dye, and as a cosmetic ingredient. With an outstanding past, its current popularity is no surprise. Over and above being a staple spice in South African kitchens and in kitchens the world over, turmeric is a natural wonder and is being used in face masks, lattes and to dye fabrics sustainably. A powerful spice known for its vibrant colour, unique flavour, and for making one glow from the inside out.
GET GARDENING
Not only are turmeric and ginger healthy for you, but they also add beauty to the garden. Plus, they are really easy to grow and you’ll love harvesting these organic treasures from your own soil.
Ginger and turmeric are both rhizomes and require well-draining soil with plenty of sand and compost. This combination provides the perfect medium for growth.
You’ll want to grow your ginger in a semi-shade position and your turmeric in full sun. However, afternoon shade is acceptable. These are also long-season crops and will take at least a full season to get going .
Usually, people leave their roots in the ground and only harvest in the second season. This will give you much sturdier plants and three times the roots than if you only waited one year. The choice, naturally, is yours.
Ginger and turmeric are tropical plants that will do well in any frost-free area. If you get frost, then planting them into a pot is highly recommended so that you can move it when winter arrives. If planted in pots (at least 30cm deep), they will require watering every two to three days. When planted in the ground, you should water every three to four days.
Grow your ginger 5-10cm beneath the soil and your turmeric 8cm beneath the soil. Space rhizomes 30cm apart to give them room to grow to their full potential. You can harvest your ginger once the leaves begin to yellow and wilt (usually 8 months after planting). Both G & T’s leaves, flowers and roots are edible, so you can incorporate all parts of the plants into your meals.
You’ll need patience with your turmeric as it establishes itself. Once established, you can harvest pieces of root off the side of the plant throughout summer. Also, look out for the swoon-worthy flowers that turmeric offers at the base of the plant. Enjoy the flowers and know that as soon as they die down, you can harvest your own organic roots.
Make sure to save some to replant – this is one crop you can harvest and then replant immediately.
These plants are hungry and will repay you handsomely if you feed them well. For best results, mulch with compost.
Water stress will see the plants producing smaller, more fibrous roots.
Once harvested, you can consume G & T fresh, or store it in the fridge or freezer. To make your own powders, cut the rhizomes into slices and leave them to dry before grinding in a spice or coffee grinder.
IMMUNITY SHOT RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
Ginger and turmeric
Lemon and pepper
Apple juice (optional)
METHOD
- Clean your organically grown turmeric and ginger well. You can peel the skin off if you desire.
- Juice the turmeric.
- Juice the ginger.
- Juice the lemon after peeling the skin off or use lemon juice.
- Mix everything and add the black pepper, as it activates the benefits from the turmeric.
- Store in little glass vials and keep refrigerated for up to 7 days.
