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Probiotic Ginger Beer

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Anna Davenport
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One of my favorite drinks is ginger beer, but not the kind you may be thinking of. Most ginger beer from the store is loaded with sugar, artificial flavoring, and chemicals. This recipe walks you through how to make your own healthy ginger beer that is full of natural, bioavailable probiotics. So easy and so refreshing, especially on a hot summer day. This could also be used to help soothe an upset tummy or nausea due to the natural healing properties of ginger and the probiotics from the fermentation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Healthy soda full of bioavailable probiotics and none of the garbage found in regular soda AND tastes amazing? Yes please!!! You won’t be able to drink store bought ginger beer the same way again after tasting this. It’s that good!

WARNING!! When your ginger bug soda is fermenting in the swing-top glass bottle on the counter, make SURE you open the bottles at least once every 12 hours to release the pressure built up from the fermentation process. It is best to open the lid very slowly and maybe even open and close it repeatedly until all the pressure is released. Otherwise if you open it too quickly while there is a lot of pressure, the lid can fly off and your drink will fizz way up and overflow, similar to champagne. Open the bottle over the sink and pointed in a safe direction just in case this happens to you. If you go too long without doing this, your bottle could explode.

Ingredients

Ginger bug see my post here to make your own

Organic ginger make sure it is organic! We get ours from Azure Standard.

Raw local honey or organic cane sugar. The yeast eats the sugar so it ends up being a very low sugar drink either way. I prefer honey for the taste and health benefits.

Lemon juice

Filtered water we use this countertop water filter

Tools you May Need

Swing-top glass bottles 

Saucepan for making the ginger tea

Mesh strainer or cheese cloth

Funnel for pouring into bottles

Homemade Probiotic Ginger Beer Using a Ginger Bug

Use a ginger bug to create your own healthy probiotic ginger beer that nourishes your gut and just hits the spot, especially on a hot summer day.
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Cook Time 10 minutes
Fermentation 2 days
Total Time 2 days 10 minutes
Servings: 2 16oz bottles
Course: Appetizer, Drinks, Side Dish, Snack
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4.5 cups water
  • 1 cup grated organic ginger no need to peel
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 1/2 lemon squeezed
  • 2/3 cup ginger bug divided

Method
 

  1. In a large saucepan, mix 4.5 cups water, 1 cup grated organic ginger, 1/3 cup raw honey, and juice of 1/2 lemon .
  2. Bring mixture to a boil, then turn heat down to medium and let simmer for 5-8 minutes.
  3. Turn off heat. Let the ginger tea mixture steep and cool in the pan. This could take a few hours.
  4. Strain 2/3 cup ginger bug into two 16oz swing top glass bottles (1/3 cup ginger bug in each bottle). Then strain the ginger tea into each bottle leaving about 2 inches headspace on top.
  5. Close the lids, give the bottles a gentle shake to mix it up. Then, let them sit on the counter for 12 hours.
  6. Open the lids after the first 12 hours to "burp" them and let the pressure out. Then, close and let sit for another 12 hours.
  7. After the second 12 hours, open the bottles and taste. If you are satisfied with it, store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Otherwise, repeat the process until it reaches your desired taste/fizziness.

Notes

When doing the initial fermentation on the counter, make sure you do not forget to open the lids at least every 12 hours otherwise the bottles could explode.
When opening the lid, try opening it very slowly to prevent it from bubbling over. I’ve had swing tops come flying off the bottle and the contents spilling over from opening it too fast when there was a lot of pressure!
Once you’re satisfied with the taste of your drink, store it in the same bottle in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It will continue fermenting but the fridge will slow it down drastically, so you will not have to open the bottle so often.
Enjoy straight from the bottle or pour over ice.

PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER

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