1/2 cup fresh ginger root
7 cups water
2 cups brown sugar
1. Slice ginger root thin. Place in a saucepan with water and sugar.
2. Bring to a boil, stirring; then simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard ginger. Serve the hot liquid in small bowls.
NOTE: Ginger soup is eaten with steamed crabs. It's also eaten as a midnight snack, and served to visitors any time of the day. During the Chinese New Year it's served with dumplings (see Ginger Soup Dumplings).