Ginger Garlic Paste — OKAY
Munch or Dump rates Ginger Garlic Paste by Ginger Garlic OKAY — score 58/90.
Two-thirds of this jar is actual ginger and garlic — respectable. The other third is water, salt, an acidity regulator, and xanthan gum doing the 'homemade' cosplay. It's a fine convenience shortcut, just don't confuse it with the paste your grandmother pounded fresh.
Why this verdict
- Genuinely built on whole food: 34% ginger + 32% garlic with turmeric — the base is real
- Water is the third ingredient, meaning you're paying spice-paste prices for dilution held together by xanthan gum (INS 415)
- Acidity regulator INS 260 (acetic acid) quietly does the preservation work the marketing says isn't happening
- Only 7 ingredients and no artificial colors, flavor enhancers, or sweeteners — nowhere near ultra-processed territory
- Iodized salt ranks above the additives, so sodium is doing double duty as flavor and shelf-life insurance
Ingredients (7)
- Ginger (34%) (safe) — Real ginger root; anti-inflammatory and aids digestion. The headline ingredient here.
- Garlic (32%) (safe) — Real garlic; cardiovascular and immune benefits. Makes up nearly a third of the jar.
- Water (safe) — Used as a basic ingredient in bread.
- Iodized Salt (safe) — Common salt; iodine is a plus in small amounts.
- Acidity Regulator (INS 260) (safe) — Acetic acid (vinegar) for tang and shelf stability.
- Stabilizer (INS 415) (moderate) — Xanthan gum keeps the paste from separating. Safe but a sign of industrial processing.
- TURMERIC POWDER (safe) — Natural spice and mild coloring, benign.