About Ginger Ginger with the botanical name Zingiber officinale is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Zingiberaceae (which includes Turmeric and Cardamon) native to southeastern Asia. It is called Atale in Yoruba. It has an aromatic, pungent rhizome (underground stem) used as a spice, flavoring, food, and medicine. To be used as a spice,