For over 5000 years, ginger has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes in China and India.  It arrived in the Mediterranean world in the first century CE, as one of the first spices along land and sea trade routes. 
 
Interestingly, ginger does not grow in the wild, and its origins are not completely known.
 
Today, ginger is prized for its spicy flavor and for its evidence-based efficacy in aiding digestion and treating nausea.
Since this item is handmade with natural materials, variations should be expected.