Homemade Ginger Beer | Perfect Drink for Summer

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds flavor while reducing refined sugar content.

fresh ginger

🥗Healthier: ground ginger

💰Cheaper: dried ginger

Ground ginger is easier to store and use.

lemon juice

🥗Healthier: lime juice

💰Cheaper: citric acid

Citric acid provides acidity without the cost of fresh lemons.

yeast

🥗Healthier: sourdough starter

💰Cheaper: wild fermentation

Using a sourdough starter utilizes natural fermentation.

In a clean glass jar, add 2 cups of water.

Add a few raisins and 2 teaspoons of sugar to the jar and stir.

Cover the jar with a burping lid and place it on a shelf, out of direct sunlight, at room temperature for fermentation (Day 0).

After 24 hours (Day 1), open the jar and feed it another 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, then stir and return it to the shelf.

On Day 2, feed it 2 teaspoons of sugar only, then return it to the shelf.

On Day 3, feed it 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground ginger again, then return it to the shelf.

On Day 4, feed it 2 teaspoons of sugar only, then return it to the shelf.

On Day 5, feed it 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground ginger again, then return it to the shelf.

On Day 6, feed it 2 teaspoons of sugar only, then return it to the shelf.

On Day 7, drain off and discard the liquid, saving half the sediment and discarding the other half.

To the saved sediment, add 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of sugar, stir, and repeat Days 1 through 6.

From the second Day 7 onward, when the bug is active, add 2 cups of sugar to a large clean pot and stir in 2 cups of boiling water until dissolved.

Add 12 cups of cool water to the pot.

Stir in the strained juice of 2 lemons.

Strain the fermented ginger bug liquid into the mix, capturing the sediment, and stir well.

Wash bottles in hot soapy water and rinse well.

Optionally, add a few raisins to each bottle for extra flavor.

Fill each bottle with the ginger beer up to near the top and seal.

Store the bottles at room temperature for a further week to ferment, then refrigerate before enjoying.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary