International / basics / Drinks
Ginger Beer
Ginger beer is a traditional fermented drink that can be made as either a soft drink or an alcoholic drink. Make it in a carboy with more sugar or malt extract and with longer fermentation time to get alcoholic ginger beer.
Ingredients
- ginger, fresh root; peeled and grated100–300 g
- lemon, whole; zested and juiced; OR 2 tsp cream of tartar mixed with lemon extract or zest as a lemon juice substitute1
- sugar500 g
- water
- fermentation starter, see note
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 7 steps
Simmer the ginger, lemon zest and sugar in about 1.5 L water for about 10 minutes.
If using yeast as the fermentation starter, rehydrate the yeast in a glass of warm water for 5 minutes.
Add the lemon juice and enough water to get 10 L to the fermenter (see note).
Let the mixture sit in the fermenter until it has started bubbling well, which should take 8–12 hours with yeast or longer with kefir grains.
Bottle into PET bottles or other food-safe bottles.
When the bottles are hard (not just firm) from the carbonation, put them into the fridge for storage.
Serve cold.
Region evidence: no stated origin (basic dish)
