[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

I often stop at Aji Ichiban during cold months to get my fill of dried ginger. Growing up, my grandma always encouraged me to snack on ginger to ward off colds and coughs. It seems to work, and is a habit I've kept till this day. You'll find a variety of dried ginger at Aji Ichiban, most priced at $6 per half-pound. It's more than what you'll pay at other Chinatown shops, but the fact that they keep this place extra clean and offer samples keeps me a loyal customer.

Plain dried ginger dusted in sugar (pictured on the right) is my go-to order. Simple, spicy, and straightforward, it's something I nibble on all day. Sometimes I'll drop a piece or two into hot black tea; the sugar sweetens the tea, and the ginger at the bottom of the cup, stripped of sugar, turns tender though stays equally spicy. They have a bunch of different ones including a lemon-preserved ginger and another with plum. And don't forget, you can sample any flavor before committing to a purchase.

Aji Ichiban

37 Mott Street, New York, NY 10038 (map)
212-233-7650
ajiichiban.com.hk/eng

About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan blogs at Kathy YL Chan, where she chronicles her eats and travels adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.