Display omitted •The first comprehensive review for determining the ginseng age.•Advantages and disadvantages of various methods are presented.•The scope of application, and prospects of various methods are demonstrated.•A good basis for their food research and component analysis. Ginseng has garnered considerable attention as a primary subject of scientific inquiry in the fields of functional foods and dietary supplements worldwide. It is one of the best-selling natural health products due to its powerful health benefits. The market exhibits significant price discrepancies for ginseng of differing ages. The age of ginseng is pivotal in the food industry because it directly affects both its nutritional and economic worth. However, determining the age of ginseng is always challenging. This review summarizes the latest progress in the investigation of age discrimination in ginseng. We obtain a deeper understanding of their variations after investigating the advantages, disadvantages, applications, and economic aspects of various methods. This will aid the ginseng market in selecting more efficient methodologies. In conclusion, content determination represents the most mature and well-established approach presently, while morphology and spectroscopy remain the primary areas of research. These methods are highly promising but are not yet fully developed to meet market demand and further research to improve the methodologies is indicated. At the mechanistic level, systems biology provides different perspectives on the patterns during its ageing process. We believe that this review will facilitate researchers in conducting studies on the age of ginseng, thereby serving as a foundation for their research in the realm of food science.