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African Ginger Beer

West African

A traditional, spicy, and naturally fermented ginger beer. This refreshing African beverage is perfectly balanced with heat from fresh ginger and brightness from lemon.

IntermediateVeganVegetarian
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African Ginger Beer — recipe cover
2 days 30 minA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time15 min
Cook time15 min
Servings8 people
DifficultyIntermediate
Let's make something good

How to make it

5 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. Combine 500ml of water, the grated ginger, and the sugar

    In a medium pot, combine 500ml (2 cups) of water, the grated ginger, and the sugar. Bring to a boil at 100°C (212°F) and simmer for 10 minutes to create a concentrated ginger syrup.

    10 min
  2. Remove from heat

    Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and the remaining 1.5 liters (1.6 quarts) of cold water. This should bring the temperature down to approximately 35°C (95°F).

  3. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth

    Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean 2-liter bottle, discarding the ginger solids. Sprinkle the yeast into the liquid and stir gently.

  4. Cap the bottle tightly and leave it

    Cap the bottle tightly and leave it in a dark, warm place for 24 to 48 hours. Check the bottle occasionally; once it feels rock hard when squeezed, the carbonation is ready.

    2 days
  5. Place the bottle

    Place the bottle in the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process. Serve chilled.

A little kitchen wisdom

Ensure all equipment is sterilized to prevent unwanted bacteria growth. For a spicier kick, leave the ginger skin on when grating. Use plastic bottles if you are worried about pressure buildup during fermentation.

What you'll need

GraterMedium potFine-mesh sieve2-liter bottle
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

Must be made at least 2 days in advance for carbonation to develop.

Store & enjoy

Keep refrigerated to prevent over-carbonation. Open slowly as the pressure can be high. Serve cold.

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An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

African Ginger Beer
Step 1 of 5

Combine 500ml of water, the grated ginger, and the sugar

In a medium pot, combine 500ml (2 cups) of water, the grated ginger, and the sugar. Bring to a boil at 100°C (212°F) and simmer for 10 minutes to create a concentrated ginger syrup.

10 min