Ginger ale is a ginger-based drink from Ireland, similar to its alcoholic counterpart; ginger beer. It transforms the most basic ingredients into a sweet and sparkling drink. Better still, it is very easy to make!
Here’s how to make ginger ale at home.
Ingredients
- One cup of chopped Ginger or Eight fresh ginger roots, peeled and chopped
- Three cups of Water
- One cup of Sugar
- Four tablespoons of Lemon juice or Lime juice
- Four cups of Carbonated water or Club soda
- One tablespoon of Spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves) –optional
These ingredients make 6-8 servings of Ginger Ale.
Preparation
Peel the ginger
One major step to making ginger ale is to peel and chop the ginger roots. This is done to make it easier to extract the flavors present in the ginger
You can use the edge of a spoon to scrape against the ginger’s skin to peel it off or use a paring knife to peel it carefully, as you would for a potato. The spoon method, however, works only for ginger with papery skin and not young or stale ginger. Another option is to use a potato peeler, but be careful with your fingers. Remember, ginger is not as firm and big as potatoes.
After peeling your ginger, cut it into circle-like pieces and then into long strips. Keep chopping until further size reduction is impossible. Some recipes tell you to grate your peeled ginger, which works as well.
Make the ginger ale base
Pour two cups of water into a pan or a small pot and bring it to a boil. Add your ginger and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes. If you include extra spices in your recipe, this is the time to add them. Turn off the heat and leave your ginger to steep for a further twenty minutes. Afterward, strain the ginger through a fine mesh sieve, pressing it to obtain as much water as possible (consider the size of your ginger pieces), and then discard the ginger.
Make the ginger ale syrup
In another saucepan, dissolve one cup of water with one cup of sugar. Heat this mixture gently over medium heat for about three minutes, and then set aside to cool.
Assemble the ginger ale
Mix the ginger base with the syrup when sufficiently cool, then add four cups of carbonated water. Add lemon or lime juice. Stir the mixture evenly and serve with ice.
How to store ginger ale
Store-bought ginger ale is comparatively easier to preserve than homemade ginger ale. This is because homemade recipes usually lack preservatives. Nevertheless, this is not something to worry about.
Get yourself a clean bottle that can seal properly. Wash it and pour your ginger ale neatly into the bottle. Seal the bottle tightly and place it in a functional refrigerator.
The recommended duration of storage is two days. But if you must store it for longer than that, it should not exceed three days.
Unexpected benefits you can get from ginger ale
A nicely made cup of ginger ale can help you gain relief from nausea. Ginger is known for its ability to relieve nausea and suppress vomiting. If you often experience car sickness, you can do yourself some good by including a bottle of ginger ale in your travel bag.
Aside from enjoying ginger ale as the non-alcoholic beverage, you can also use it as a mixer for both mocktails and cocktails. It may be the secret weapon of every great mixologist.
Variations of the recipe
One common variation of this recipe is to add spices like cloves or cinnamon. These extra ingredients give the ale a spicy kick and help create a more intense and rich flavor profile.
Adding fruits to your ginger ale can make it more nutritious and tasty. For example, you can make orange-ginger ale or cranberry-ginger ale. A non-carbonated version of the drink also exists for people staying off carbonated or fizzy drinks.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Use fresh ginger to get the best out of your ginger ale.
- The longer your ginger stays in the hot water, the more intense the flavor.
- You can reduce or increase the amount of ginger to tone down or amp the spiciness.
- Agave, maple syrup, and honey are good replacements for sugar.
- If your ginger ale turns out flat, add a little more carbonated water and, or, lime juice. The acidity will revive its flavor.
- Cloudiness in your ginger ale may result from improper sieving or bacterial growth. If you sense it is the latter, dispose of the ginger ale and start over. However, if it is because of improper straining, you can strain it again using a cheesecloth or filter it using a coffee filter or paper towel.
