Today we’re talking all about how to make ginger juice and ginger shots from fresh ginger root! Hear hear, this ginger juice recipe is a fun and creative beverage to sip on all summer long with a flavor we’ll call an elevated lemonade.
Ginger juice and ginger shots are fruity, spicy, and fragrant concoctions sure to liven up your day.
We’ve got a few different sections… Jump to how to make:
Ginger Juice, Ginger Shots, or Quick Ginger Juice For Cooking
How To Make Ginger Juice
Making your own ginger juice requires just 3 ingredients and give or take 20 minutes. It’s is easy to do with a blender, bullet blender, or food processor. Ginger juice can be served as as refreshing cold beverage on hot summer days or it can be served warm as ginger tea during chilly winter months.
It’s also great as a cocktail mixer, as a base for sauces, or the cook rice in.
Here’s how to do it:
- Measure and prepare the ginger. You can peel the skin off the ginger or if your ginger isn’t very dirty you can simply wash it. Remove any tough pieces, knobs, or deep crevices where dirt collects.
- Cut the ginger into 1-2″ pieces so it’s easier for your blender to break down.
- Add the ginger pieces and water to a blender with lemon juice and sweetener (if using) and blend for 30-60 seconds until no large pieces remain.
- Pour through a fine sieve or nut milk bag to strain the pulp and your shot is ready!
Here are some optional add-ins that taste fantastic with ginger juice:
- Fresh herbs! Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme all taste exceptional with ginger juice. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs and taste. Lemongrass would also be great.
- Vanilla extract. Yes, vanilla and ginger are a great pair, as vanilla is mild and soothing compared to ginger’s fiery heat! Start with 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of ginger juice.
- Citrus juice. Lemon juice, lime juice, and orange juice can all be added to this recipe.
How To Make Ginger Shots
Ginger shots intended as a health or wellness shot can be created a bit differently as you won’t slowly sip on ginger shots. Ginger shots are more concentrated so they have less water and less sugar but you can still make them easily in your blender or bullet blender.
These ginger juice shots consist of pure ginger juice and fresh lemon juice– adding sugar is optional.
To make ginger shots follow the steps to make ginger juice listed above with a few exceptions. If you’re making ginger health shots you don’t need to add the sugar as you won’t be sipping on it, you’ll be shootin’ it back!
Also, health shots are usually concentrated so we’ll use half the amount of water. These ginger shots will have a spicy, fiery kick so taste and adjust as needed by adding more water or sweetener.
Store ginger shots in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for longer storage if needed.
Ginger Juice Benefits
Why drink ginger juice or ginger shots? Ginger is in the health food spotlight for a variety of benefits especially those pertaining to stomach ailments. Ginger is known to help heal the gut with everything from nausea, to motion sickness, morning sickness, and menstrual cramps.
Additionally, ginger is believed to help ward off cold, flu, and infections- plus has been studied for anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties! It’s also believed to help with digestion. (Source)
Quick Ginger Juice For Cooking
Now, some of you may be here because you need a quick ginger juice for cooking, maybe for an Asian inspired recipe or curry. There’s no need to make an entire batch or blender full of ginger juice when you only need a teaspoon or two.
You have 2 options for how to quickly make a few teaspoons of ginger juice:
- Use a garlic press if you have one. Peel and cut a piece of ginger appropriately sized to fit in your garlic press and squeeze away! Repeat if you need more ginger juice.
- Use a Microplane or small grater. Peel and cut a 1-3″ piece of fresh ginger and shred using a Microplane or small side of a box grater. Squeeze this shredded ginger to extract the juice in a piece of cheesecloth, a kitchen towel, or YOUR HAND. We know, it’s magic.
FAQS About Ginger Juice & Ginger Shots
- How long will this last? Fresh ginger juice lasts up to 5 days in the refrigerator but like all fresh juices, it is best consumed as fresh as possible.
- Can I use ground ginger to make this? The flavor of ground ginger is wildly different than that of fresh; we don’t recommend making ginger juice or shots with dried ginger.
- Do I need to peel the ginger? Peeling ginger is optional but it is the best way to ensure all surface impurities are removed from the ginger as ginger grows underground and can be coated in a layer of dirt and debris.
- Ginger Shots are way too spicy, how to make them taste better? If you find the ginger juice or shots to be too spicy you can dilute the mixture by adding more water.
Fresh Ginger Juice & Ginger Shots!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: ~6 cups
- Category: Ginger Juice
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: African
Description
Ginger juice is a zippy, refreshing beverage that has health benefits galore! This recipe details how to make ginger juice, ginger shots, and how to use ginger juice… read on for our tips and tricks!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb fresh ginger root (about 1 cup full of 1″ pieces)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons, depending on size)
- pinch salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 5 cups water, divided
Instructions
- Prepare the ginger. I prefer to peel the ginger but if your ginger isn’t dirty you can simply wash and scrub the ginger. If peeling, use a spoon and scrape the side of the spoon back and forth across the papery skin to remove– this works better than a peeler. After washing or peeling, cut into roughly 1″ pieces so they are easy to blend.
- Add the ginger, fresh lemon juice, and pinch of salt to a blender. Pour in 4 cups of water and blend for 30-60 seconds until no large pieces remain and you’re left with a pulpy liquid. (If adding fresh herbs like mint or basil, add to the blender with other ingredients!)
- Pour the ginger mixture through cheesecloth or a nutmilk bag to strain the juice from the pulp. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining 1 cup water and 3/4 cup sugar in a small pot over medium heat stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the sugar syrup into the strained ginger juice and stir to combine.
- Serve over ice with fresh mint or basil to garnish. You can also serve this warm as a ginger tea.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To Make Ginger Shots:
- Prepare the ginger. I prefer to peel the ginger but if your ginger isn’t dirty you can simply wash and scrub the ginger. If peeling, use a spoon and scrape the side of the spoon back and forth across the papery skin to remove– this works better than a peeler. After washing or peeling, cut into roughly 1″ pieces so they are easy to blend.
- Add the ginger, fresh lemon juice, and pinch of salt to a blender. Pour in 3 cups of water and blend for 30-60 seconds until no large pieces remain and you’re left with a pulpy liquid. (If adding fresh herbs like mint or basil, add to the blender with other ingredients!)
- Pour the ginger mixture through cheesecloth or a nutmilk bag to strain the juice from the pulp.
- Store in the fridge and take ass need throughout the week! If the shots are too strong, dilute with water or add a liquid sweetener such as honey or maple syrup.
Notes
** You can dilute this with more water as needed to tame the fiery ginger heat! The recipe as listed works great for cold ginger juice or warm ginger tea!
** Store this for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, but consume as fresh a possible for best taste.
** We prefer to peel the ginger as ginger grows underground and may have dirt hiding in all the nooks and crannies. However, we tested this recipe both ways, peeled and unpeeled, and didn’t notice a significant taste difference either way!
Keywords: Ginger Juice, Ginger Shots
Erin
This drink is delicious nice and refreshing on a nice hot day.
★★★★★
Adriana
Thanks Erin!
Jason
This drink is delicious nice and refreshing on a nice hot day ,I’m going to have to try it in the winter time
Meagan
This recipe looks delicious! Pinning for later. Thank you!
★★★★★
ethalfrida
Awesome recipe but recommendation is 4 grams per day. I am totally confushed if that means four grans of fresh ginger or four grams of giner juice. If it is the juice how do we configure that?
★★★★★
Marlene Fong
What can you do with the left over pulp?
Adriana
You could add it to smoothies or try adding it to baked goods like muffins or banana bread!
Tim
Wow! this is very fiery at first so something to cool it down such as vanilla and sugar is needed. I added the shot mixture to fresh apple juice to give an extra zing to the taste. It also saved me money compared to the ready made apple and ginger juice
★★★★