Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) contains volatile oils (for aroma) and non-volatile components (for pungency).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Components: The non-volatile pungent principles of ginger are gingerols and shogaols.
2. Classification: These substances are found in the oleoresin fraction of the rhizome. An oleoresin is a natural mixture of essential oils and resinous matter.
3. Action: Gingerols are the primary pungent molecules in fresh ginger, while shogaols (formed during drying/heating) are even more pungent.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The "bite" or pungency of ginger is chemically attributed to the phenolic compounds located within its oleoresin.