Ginger (scientific name: Zingiber officinale) is a plant in the Zingiberaceae family. It is native to Southeast Asia and was first cultivated by the Austronesian peoples. Ginger produces yellow-green flowers and has a spicy rhizome. Fresh or dried rhizomes can be used as a spice. Ginger is also processed for use as one of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and can be brewed as herbal tea. The cultivation of ginger originated in Asia and has a long history, and its production has also seen growth in India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the Caribbean.