Homemade Ginger Juice – Refreshingly tangy, minty, and sweet with a satisfying zing, homemade ginger juice is a natural drink with only five simple ingredients. Replace sugar with honey, and you have a wholesome detoxifying drink to serve either hot or cold!
When I was young, ginger juice was my aunt’s favorite home remedy. When I had a cold or a stomachache, Auntie would whip up a batch of her famous ginger juice and nurse me back to health. And really, its health benefits are staggering!
But no rules say you can only enjoy this tasty beverage when you’re sick! I love to serve it hot for a cozy afternoon tea. But it’s also super delicious served cold over ice for a refreshing summer cool-down. This fragrant, zippy concoction will absolutely brighten up your day!
What Are Ginger Juice Health Benefits?
I’m no doctor, but Medical News Today has a lot of good information.
- Relieves Cold and Congestion: My aunt knew best! It can relieve the congestion that comes with a cold. Many believe ginger supports the immune system, which may help protect against illnesses like the common cold.
- Improves Digestion: Unlike sodas that make you bloated, ginger juice aids in proper digestion. It stimulates the production of saliva, which helps moisten our food intake, thus properly breaking it down.
- Pain Reliever: You might have heard this one already. It’s well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties that also act as a pain reliever. You can even massage your skin with ginger juice and olive oil as a remedy for back pain.
- Controls High Blood Pressure: Many health articles and experts claim ginger’s chemical compounds help reduce hypertension. They also say it can lower the bad cholesterol in your body, which causes heart disease.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ginger – The key player in this recipe, ginger is both delicious and healthy!
- Mint provides a bright, herby flavor to the juice.
- Lemons add a little extra zest and a Vitamin C boost.
- Sugar delivers a touch of sweetness and balances well with the tangy ginger.
How to Make Homemade Ginger Juice
- Wash the ginger. Then peel it using a knife or spoon to remove the skin.
- Prepare Mint – Crush mint in a small bowl using a small mortar and pestle. Set aside.
- Chop the Ginger into rough chunks, but small enough to easily blend in a blender or food processor. An alternative would be to use a microplane or fine edge of a grater. Don’t cut ginger into chunks if using a grater to grate the ginger.
- Boil Water – Bring about 7 cups of water to a boil in a kettle or pot.
- Blend – While the water is heating up, place ginger into a blender, cover it with 1 cup of water and blend until the ginger is thick and pasty.
- Mix the ginger paste in a large bowl with mint and boiled water.
- Strain – Sieve ginger using cheesecloth over a large bowl or cup, then squeeze the juice from the ginger and let it drain into the bowl. Discard the remaining paste.
- Flavor – Stir lemon juice and sugar into ginger juice until the sugar dissolves, and serve garnished with mint leaves. Serve hot or cold over ice.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the Sweetener – You can replace the sugar with a natural sweetener like honey. Or swap it with maple syrup for a caramelly richness.
- Go Coconutty – Add a splash of coconut water to your glass to give your juice nutty, slightly salty tones.
- Bring on the Bubbly – Cut the water in half and prepare as usual. Then when ready to serve, replace the other half with sparkling water for a zesty, bubbly soda.
- Go Mellow – Add a touch of vanilla extract to the ginger juice. The mildness of vanilla is a great complement to ginger’s tanginess! Add one teaspoon per cup of juice and gradually increase according to your tastes.
Ginger Juicing Tips and Tricks
Are you wondering how best to juice ginger? There are a few methods to extract juice from the rhizome – from the no-fuss to the arm-wrestling method. Either way, you’ll be rewarded with the health benefits and versatility of this wonderful, healing homemade juice.
Juicer – You can juice fresh ginger using an electronic juicer. With this method, there’s no need to peel it before juicing it, as the juicer will extract the juice from the skin and pulp. However, please wash and check it for bad or moldy spots.
Food Processor or Blender – Wash and peel the ginger and cut it into rough chunks. Next, blend the ginger with a cup of water until it’s thick and pasty. Finally, add some warm water and strain it using a cheesecloth. Squeeze to extract the juice, and then discard the pulp.
Grater -If you don’t have a juicer or a blender, you can juice the ginger with a box grater. Shred the ginger directly on a cheesecloth set over a bowl to catch all the juice, and then squeeze the juice out from the shredded ginger. Or you can use the water addition method mentioned above.
Garlic Press -If you only need a small amount (you know, for salads or tea), you can use a garlic press. Just peel and cut a small piece of ginger to fit inside the garlic press and squeeze.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Fresh juice is best when consumed immediately after preparation. However, ginger juice is magic because it’s delicious hot or cold. You can prepare the juice ahead and let it cool in the fridge from 30 minutes to a couple of hours before drinking.
Serving and Storage Instructions
You can store homemade ginger juice in a glass bottle or pitcher in the fridge for up to 5 days. Remember to shake well before serving.
Are you looking for creative ways to use leftover ginger juice? I like to freeze it in ice cube trays. Then pop the frozen juice cubes into a smoothie, cup of hot water, cold tea, or a cocktail. It brightens up any beverage!
FAQs
I’m not a doctor, but most health websites recommend consuming no more than 4 grams of ginger per day and less if you’re pregnant. And of course, it’s always good to see a doctor if you have questions or specific medical conditions. But don’t worry, anywhere between 2-4 grams will give you all the health and taste benefits of this mouthwatering drink!
Yes, washing is highly recommended. Although the juicer will extract the peel, ginger is a root, so washing is essential to removing dirt and debris.
Oh yes, you can! A shot of rum or tequila is wonderfully warming whether your ginger juice is hot or cold. And a splash of cranberry-flavored vodka isn’t bad, either.
What to Serve With Ginger Juice
Ginger juice and savory snacks are a magnificent combination! I love sipping juice while munching homemade pita chips dipped in creamy hummus. Or try crispy plantain chips dipped in mango salsa for an exotic twist.
If you’re in the mood for cozy, hot ginger juice pairs nicely with cranberry orange scones and strawberry banana bread for a comforting afternoon snack.
More Thirst-Quenching Drink Recipes to Try
Conclusion
A handful of flavor powerhouses come together to create a delicious, refreshing, healthy beverage guaranteed to cool you off in the summer and keep you cozy in winter! Do you prefer to drink ginger juice hot or cold? Cast your vote in the comments below!
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in July 2019 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
Homemade Ginger Juice
Ingredients
- 4 ounces (113g) ginger root (about 1 cup chopped and peeled)
- 14-16 leaves fresh mint
- 6-7 cups (1.5-1.7ml) water (adjust to the desired strength with more or less)
- 2 large lemons, juiced
- 1 cup (200g) white sugar (sub with honey)
Instructions
- Peel the ginger using a knife or spoon to remove the skin.
- Crush mint in a small bowl using a small mortar and pestle (I used a wooden lemon juicer). Set aside.
- Then chop ginger into rough chunks, small enough to blend easily in a blender or food processor. An alternative method would be to use a microplane or fine edge of a grater. (Don't cut ginger in chunks if using a grater to grate the ginger.)
- Bring about 7 cups of water to a boil in a kettle or pot.
- While water is heating, place ginger into a blender, cover with 1 cup water, and blend until the ginger is thick and pasty.
- Add the ginger paste to a large bowl with mint and boiled water.
- Strain ginger in cheesecloth over a large bowl or cup, then squeeze the juice from the ginger paste and let it fall into the bowl. Discard the remaining pulp.
- Stir lemon juice and sugar into ginger juice until the sugar dissolves, and serve garnished with mint leaves.
- Serve with ice if desired. Some people like it hot.
Tips & Notes:
- It’s so delicious hot in the winter.
- Honey is a great replacement for sugar if you want natural sweetness.
- Juicer – You can juice fresh ginger using an electronic juicer. With this method, there’s no need to peel the ginger before juicing it, as the juicer will extract the juice from the skin and pulp. However, please wash and check it for bad or moldy spots.
- Food Processor or Blender – Wash and peel the ginger and cut it into rough chunks. Next, blend the ginger with a cup of water until it’s thick and pasty. Finally, add some warm water and strain it using a cheesecloth. Squeeze to extract the juice, and then discard the pulp.
- Grater – If you don’t have a juicer or a blender, you can juice the ginger with a box grater. Shred the ginger directly on a cheesecloth set over a bowl to catch all the juice, and then squeeze the juice out from the shredded ginger. Or you can use the water addition method mentioned above.
- Garlic Press – If you only need a small amount of ginger juice (you know, for salads or tea), you can use a garlic press. Just peel and cut a small piece of ginger to fit inside the garlic press and squeeze.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
KT says
Very nice.
I love ginger, use it regulalry in my cooking big fan of ginger beer as well but i have no need to consume this much ginger when I consume it regulalry in my food. For those of you who don’t cook with ginger, could be great to add this type of drink into your diet.
Imma says
Oh great to hear that. Thank you!
Yolanda Rivera says
I love my Ginger tea ,very cold ❤️
Imma says
Thank you, . Stay tuned for more amazing recipes.
Judith Lynn Davison says
Interested if you have added tumeric and what that recipe might be…
Imma says
Turmeric is related to ginger and they go really well together. I haven’t personally added turmeric, but I know others have. I’d add a ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric or add a ½-inch slice of fresh turmeric to start and go from there.
Elisabeth Mireille says
What you are doing it just incredible. A great cook. The greatest of the world!
Imma says
Wonderful! Thank you so much for the feedback 🙂 And if there’s a recipe you’d love to see, please let me know. Thanks:)
Jody adams says
You Don’t seem to address making the recipe after you have juiced the ginger and a juicer. I’m assuming you wouldn’t make the paste and have to put boiling water over it and then sieve it out. Can you just mix the mint leaves in with the Ginger in the juicer. Do you still boil 7 cups of water and add the juice from the juicer to that? Then out of the lemon juice?
Imma says
Thanks for visiting. Step 6 has you mix the ginger, mint, and hot water. Then step 7 instructs you to strain out the pulp. After that, you can add lemon juice and sugar to taste. I hope that clears up the confusion. Please let me know how it goes.
Oh, you could also use half the hot water, then when ready to serve, replace the other half with sparkling water for an incredibly refreshing soda.
Justina Morally-Bell says
Great recipe. I’m 7 months pregnant and this eased my nausea within minutes of drinking a glass.
Imma says
Amazing to hear, best of luck to you. You may enjoy healthy life and have a very cute and healthy baby 🙂