How to Make Ginger Ale [Homemade Recipe] - My Fermented Foods (2024)

Published January 26, 2019 Updated April 22, 2020 By Gigi Mitts 4 Comments

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How to Make Ginger Ale [Homemade Recipe] - My Fermented Foods (1)

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Ginger ale is a non-alcoholic and refreshing drink made of fresh ginger and carbonated sweetened water. It’s probably the easiest soda you can make at home with little effort.

It can be consumed directly to enhance your energy levels and feel fresh or used as a base to improve the flavors of spirit-based drinks.

Table of Contents

Ginger Ale vs Ginger Beer

A lot of people mix up Ginger Ale and Ginger Beer. They are two completely different drinks. Ginger beer is brewed and fermented drink, while ginger ale is a carbonated beverage flavored with ginger.

Ginger beer is an alcoholic beverage prepared from water, fermenting ginger, sugar, and a starter culture. Ginger beer has stronger flavors with a mild spicy touch when compared to ginger ale.

Ginger Ale benefits

Ginger Ale offers the following benefits:

  • It can improve your immune system functions thereby protecting you against recurrent attacks of allergies and infections. This is why patients who suffer from allergic dermatitis, rhinitis, and chronic sinusitis are advised to drink Ginger Ale on a regular basis. Ginger Ale can promote metabolic rate and fat burning processes and stimulate weight loss.
  • Ginger in this beverage has the potential to support the functions of the digestive system. It can provide relief for constipation, bloating, indigestion, and heaviness in the stomach.
  • Ginger Ale can regulate the production of mucus in the respiratory passages thereby relieving the symptoms of common cold and other respiratory infections such as nose block, cough, congestion, and sneezing.
  • Ginger Ale has powerful anti-cancer potential. It can support the body’s natural ability to destroy cancer cells thereby reducing the risk of cancer.
How to Make Ginger Ale [Homemade Recipe] - My Fermented Foods (2)

How to make Ginger Ale

You can make ginger ale at home in less than an hour. It is that simple and easy. The main ingredient is fresh ginger. You can get fresh ginger from your local supermarket produce section. You can make ginger syrup using fresh ginger and granulated sugar.

To make ginger ale you will need either club soda or seltzer water.

Club soda is carbonated water that has been infused with minerals such as potassium sulfate, sodium chlorine, sodium bicarbonate and others. The minerals give water a slightly salty taste.

Seltzer originated in Germany and is also carbonated water but with no added minerals. It can be enhanced with flavourings without alerting its taste which is why I recommend using it for your ginger ale.

You will also need fresh lemon or lime juice. I use lemon juice as I have all year lemon tree. However, using either of them will not impact the taste of your ginger ale.

You don’t need any special equipment to make ginger ale in your own kitchen. Equipment used is simple and includes a saucepan, bowl and a mesh strainer.

Once you have your ginger syrup ready you can make ginger ale by mixing ¼ of syrup and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice per with ¾ cup seltzer. This is my perfect mix but you can adjust the ingredients to suit your own taste.

You don’t need any special equipment to make ginger ale in your own kitchen. Equipment used is simple and includes a saucepan, bowl and a mesh strainer.

Once you have your ginger syrup ready you can make ginger ale by mixing ¼ of syrup and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice per with ¾ cup seltzer. This is my perfect mix but you can adjust ingredients to suit you own taste.

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How to Make Ginger Ale [Homemade Recipe] - My Fermented Foods (3)

Ginger Ale Recipe

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  • Author: Gigi Mitts
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 2 quarts 1x
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Description

Ginger ale is a non-alcoholic and refreshing drink made of fresh ginger and carbonated sweetened water.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup of fresh ginger
  • 2 cups of water
  • ¼ cup of granulated sugar
  • ¼ fresh lemon or lime juice
  • 4 cups of cold club soda or seltzer water

Instructions

  1. Prepare ginger: Peel the ginger and cut it into small cubes.
  2. Simmer ginger: Place the ginger and water into a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Let the ginger simmer for about 30 minutes then remove it from the heat. Remove the saucepan from the stove and let ginger sit in the saucepan for another 10 minutes.
  3. Make syrup: Pour the ginger syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing down to get all of the juice out of the mixture. Discard ginger pieces. Place the ginger syrup back into the saucepan then add granulated sugar. Bring to simmer for about 10 minutes.
  4. Cool the syrup: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Set it aside and let the ginger syrup cool completely.
  5. Assemble: Serve it by mixing ¼ of syrup and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice per ¾ cup seltzer. Serve over ice. Place the remaining syrup in a mason jar and refrigerate it for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Equipment:small saucepan, bowl and a mesh strainer

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 80
  • Sugar: 20 grams
  • Sodium: 17mg
  • Saturated Fat: 0 grams
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 grams
  • Trans Fat: 0 grams
  • Fiber: 0 grams
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

FAQs

Is ginger ale good for you?

Ginger Ale offers benefits such as faster weight loss and improved energy levels. It can refresh your senses after a tiring day and reduce weakness, lethargy, and body pains. Ginger Ale is specifically good for people who suffer from recurrent respiratory problems like common cold, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, or sinusitis.

Does ginger ale have caffeine?

Traditionally prepared Ginger Ale does not contain caffeine. This is what makes it a superior refreshing beverage. It can act as a stimulant and increase your energy levels without creating the short-term and long-term side effects of caffeine consumption.

Ginger ale calories

It is estimated that a 100-gram serving of Ginger Ale contains 34 calories. This is why it is also suitable for people who are conscious of their calorie intake and want to lose weight.

The calorie content, as well as the amount of carbohydrates in this beverage, is much lower than the commercially available soft drinks and carbonated beverage. This makes Ginger Ale a safer alternative to increase energy levels and feel refreshed even for patients with diabetes.

Conclusion

Ginger Ale is very easy to prepare and does not require you to put in much time and effort. This naturally refreshing drink may offer several health benefits. Its therapeutic effect on your digestion and respiratory system and stimulatory effect of your brain and immune system can help in the prevention of several diseases and help keep you healthy and active. Therefore, it’s definitely worth making ginger ale at home.

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How to Make Ginger Ale [Homemade Recipe] - My Fermented Foods (2024)

FAQs

Does ginger ale have probiotics? ›

The results showed that there were probiotic bacteria in ginger ale, from the Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Micrococcus genus. Organoleptic test results by panelists showed that ginger ale from ginger emprit has a good taste. In addition, it is found to contain a phenolic compound (flavonoid group), namely luteolin.

How to make ginger probiotic drink? ›

Making Probiotic Soda

Mix together the fruit juice and active ginger bug and pour into sealable, air-tight bottles. (Flip-cap bottles are my favorite!) Seal the bottles and leave the juice to ferment with the ginger bug at room temperature overnight. The next day, check on the gas formation by opening the bottle.

What type of fermentation is ginger ale? ›

The carbonation comes from the yeast fermentation as opposed to carbonating the finished product. Ethanol, as a byproduct of fermentation, will be present in the ginger ale but can be controlled by modifying fermentation time.

Is ginger good for fermentation? ›

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a perennial favorite addition to many fermented goodies. Ginger's warm, woodsy flavor is pleasingly hot with rich, sweet notes. It is a common ingredient in many traditional fermentations.

Is ginger ale good for your gut? ›

Ginger ale could actually do more harm than good.

“Too much sugar could trigger inflammation and may increase bloating and gas, which could further irritate an upset stomach,” he told HuffPost.

Is fermented ginger ale good for you? ›

Many commercial ginger ales contain little ginger and a lot of added sugar, but some traditional varieties contain real fermented ginger root. Ginger may offer benefits for heart health, headaches, and nausea, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

How do you make probiotic soda at home? ›

5 to 1.5 fl oz of ginger bug liquid, 4-5 fl oz of shelf-stable sweetened fruit juice, and fill the rest of the bottle with filtered water, leaving 1" of headroom. Let sit at room temp for 2-3 days, then refrigerate before serving. If you see a bubbly ring forming at the top of your liquid, you know it's working.

How long does it take for ginger ale to ferment? ›

Bottling is what gives the ginger ale it's carbonation. The last blog was all about fermentation which will have been taking place on your kitchen counter for 3-4 days. There should be bubbles rising in the liquid and the top should be nice and foamy.

What is a fermented ginger drink called? ›

It is time for “ginger bug” to have its day in the sun as a fermented tonic drink in its own right. Long considered just a starter for ginger beer, this quick to ferment beverage is low in sugar, spicy, warming and pungent. In our house, we enjoy it straight up.

Can Apple cider vinegar be used for fermentation? ›

No, because it is already fermented. To any sugary solution, if you toss brewer's yeast into it, you get alcohol and a flavor shift to “wine”. In the apple juice case, you get hard cider. Instead of brewer's yeast, if you toss “mother of vinegar” bacterial culture into the pot, you get vinegar.

What bacteria does ginger fight? ›

In addition to adding an extra layer of flavor, ginger helps prevent infections and fight germs! The chemical compounds that ginger is composed of can kill off harmful bacteria, such as E. Coli and Shigella. They can also kill viruses, such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Is it OK to drink ginger ale everyday? ›

In either case, ginger ale is still soda, and numerous studies have linked drinking soda with an increased risk of obesity. "Ginger ale is not classified as a health food and should be consumed in moderation," advises Jamie Bering, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

Why do doctors recommend ginger ale? ›

Ginger, a member of the plant family that includes turmeric and cardamom, has been proven to be effective at treating nausea and vomiting — two hallmarks of a classic upset stomach. In fact, ginger is even used to treat morning sickness, muscle pain and menstrual pain.

Why do doctors give you ginger ale? ›

Both ginger ale and apple juice are relatively easy on the stomach, so if there is any residual stomach upset or nausea they would be less likely to aggravate it. Some hospitals offer additional options, such as popsicles or 7up (or some other variety of clear lemon-lime carbonated drink).

Is Canada Dry ginger ale good for you? ›

Canada Dry Ginger Ale contains substantial amounts of sugar, contributing to increased daily caloric intake. Overconsumption of sugary drinks is associated with weight gain, type 2 diabetes, dental problems, and heart disease. Moderation is key.

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