Ginger ale — a traditionally fermented, fizzy beverage — contains enzymes and probiotics that may support health.
Ginger is an excellent spice with powerful therapeutic properties and has long been used to help treat a wide range of ailments. Drinking ginger ale is another way to enjoy those benefits. Here are some of them:
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Soothes the digestive system and relieves issues such as stomach ache, indigestion, nausea, acid reflux, bloating, and gas.
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Eases colds, coughs, and other respiratory problems.
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Helps relieve muscle aches and body pain.
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May reduce fever and help strengthen the immune system.
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Improves blood circulation.
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May help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and could reduce certain cancer risks.
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Alleviates stress and anxiety.
Below are a few methods for preparing ginger ale (or related ginger beer) naturally at home, with detailed step-by-step instructions.
Method – 1: (Ginger Ale using Ginger Bug)
Ginger bug is a culture of beneficial bacteria that prepared by adding ginger root and sugar in water on the daily basis for a week, which is similar to a kombucha scoby for making kombucha. It is a natural base for making many homemade sodas and tonics. Let’s see how to prepare ginger ale using a ginger bug.
- Pour 3 cups of water, 2-inch minced fresh ginger root, 1/2 cup of organic sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in a saucepan.
- Place it on the heat and bring it to a boil for few minutes.
- Simmer it for another 5 – 7 minutes until sugar dissolves completely and the mix smells like ginger.
- Turn off the heat and add 5 cups of water to cool the mix.
- Then add 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup of ginger bug to it.
- Transfer all this mix into 2-quart glass mason jar and stir well.
- Place its air tight lid and keep it aside for 2 – 3 days till carbonated but make sure to mix it well for once daily.
- The final mix should bubble and should hiss like a soda when opened. It should smell like ginger and slightly of fermentation/yeast.
- Strain the ginger ale and store it in a refrigerator.
- Enjoy this frizzy ginger ale drink.
Note: Or use whey instead of ginger bug for quick fermentation.
Method – 2: (Ginger Ale using Chilled Seltzer or Club Soda)
- Pour 1 ½ cups of peeled and chopped ginger in a small saucepan.
- Then add 2 cups of water in it and cook at a low heat by covering partially for 45 minutes.
- Now remove it from heat and let it steep for another 20 minutes.
- Strain the mix and pour this liquid into a saucepan.
- Pour 3/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt to the mix and boil it over a medium heat.
- Stir it till the sugar has dissolved and turn off the heat.
- Let it cool for few minutes and then mix 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice and 1 quart of chilled seltzer or club soda.
- Stir well and drink ginger ale and refrigerate the remaining ale.
Method – 3: (Ginger Ale using Active Yeast)
- Pour 1 ½ ounces of finely grated fresh ginger, 6 ounces of sugar and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan.
- Place it over medium-high heat and stir well till the sugar dissolves completely.
- Then remove the heat and cover it.
- Let it steep for an hour and strain the mix finely and refrigerate it.
- Now pour this syrup in a 2-liter plastic bottle and add 1/8 teaspoon of yeast, 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and 7 cups of water in it.
- Place its cap and shake it gently to mix all these ingredients.
- Leave the bottle at room temperature for 48 hours and check it once for carbonation.
- Finally, store the ginger ale in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks by opening the bottle for once a day.
Note: Or mix 1 ½ tablespoons of fresh grated ginger, juice of 1 lemon, 1 cup of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast in a 2 little soda bottle. Stir well all these ingredients by adding the rest of the bottle with water. Leave it at room temperature till the bottle is hard to squeeze for 2 – 3 days to make ginger ale.
These are some of the ways of preparing ginger ale in your home. Try them and share your experience with us.