When used as a spice, ginger is both hot and sweet. It's often used in a powdered form in baking, such for gingerbread or ginger cookies. It also adds a sharp tang to savory foods. Ginger is sold for culinary use in powdered form, in crystallized pieces and fresh for use during cooking. Ginger is used to flavor carbonated soda, called ginger ale. It's also used in beer making.
