Ginger Soft Drink
Submitted by Lisa1115
Steep fresh grated ginger with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus juices to create a spiced concentrate that’s refreshing served over ice or mixed with soda water.
YIELD
3 quartsPREP
2 hrsCOOK
0 minREADY
2 hrsThis African-style ginger concentrate delivers warming spice and bright citrus in a drink that’s equally refreshing hot or cold.
Grated fresh ginger steeps with whole cloves and cinnamon sticks in boiling water, infusing the liquid with layers of aromatic warmth.
Orange and lime juices bring brightness and balance the ginger’s bite, while sugar rounds everything out.
The recipe makes a concentrate you can dilute to taste with cold soda water for fizz, plain water for a gentler version, or serve warm like tea on chilly days.
Kitchen Tips
- Grate ginger on the fine side of a box grater for maximum surface area and flavor extraction
- Steep in a warm spot (on top of the oven or in direct sun) to develop deeper flavor
- Strain twice through a fine-mesh sieve to remove sediment for clearer liquid
- Try different citrus combinations: grapefruit, lemon, or tangerine all work beautifully
- Store the concentrate in a clean glass jar in the fridge for up to a week
Variations
- Add a pinch of black peppercorns for extra bite
- Stir in fresh mint leaves during the second steeping for herbal freshness
- Use honey instead of sugar for a richer, more complex sweetness
Ingredients
Directions
There are lots of varieties of homemade ginger beers or ginger soda brewed in Africa. Ginger makes a fresh, cooling spicy drink perfect for the summer heat and warms the belly in the winter.
This drink works with any citrus flavors so feel free to try lemon, grapefruit or other citrus fruits.
The recipe makes a concentrate that can be mixed with ice cold soda water or plain water.
To make:
Add the grated ginger, sugar, cloves and cinnamon to a large pot. Pour the boiling water over top.
Set aside, covered in a warm place, on top of the oven or in the sun for at least an hour.
Strain through a fine sieve.
Stir in the juices and water. Set aside in a cozy spot for another hour.
Strain the juice again, careful to leave sediment behind. (Discard sediment if any).
Transfer to a clean glass vessel and store in the refrigerator.
It’s great served chilled, on ice or diluted with soda water.
Squeeze a bit of lemon or lime on top and it’s “pucker".
Comments
guess it can be achieved without the additional juice.