New Delhi, July 25 -- Whether it's chai, curry or chutney, Indians have always had a soft spot for ginger. But of late, a cousin of Indian ginger has been making its way onto the Indian palate. Served as paper-thin folded strips, this traditional Japanese palate cleanser is sweet and sour, and distinctly pink. And it is riding an unprecedented sushi boom, as India takes to yet another global dish.

The growing appetite among Indians for sushi has driven a sharp increase in imports of Gari, or sushi ginger, underscoring how Japanese cuisine has expanded beyond premium restaurants into the mainstream. This pickled ginger, traditionally served with sushi, is eaten between different pieces to clean the taste buds.

India's imports of sushi gi...