Jamaica | Beverages | Ginger | Summer

Ginger Beer

(Jamaican ginger beverage)

Yield: about 2 quarts


INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Gingerroot chopped 3/4 to 1 lb
Water 2 quarts
Sugar 2/3 to 3/4 cups
Lemons or Limes juice only 2-3 each

METHOD

Basic Steps:  Puree → Sweeten → Chill
  1. Place the minced ginger, 3 cups of the water and 2/3 cup sugar in a blender and puree well. Let set for at least 30 minutes or as much as overnight to extract all the flavor.
  2. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve into a pitcher. Add the rest of the water to make 2 quarts. Add the lemon or lime juice and additional sugar to taste and chill well before serving.

VARIATIONS

  • Add more or less ginger to your taste.
  • For a bubbly beverage, puree the ginger with 2-3 cups of regular water, then use club soda to bring the amount up to 2 quarts.

NOTES

  • Ginger beer is very popular in Jamaica and goes well with spicy jerk chicken or pork. Sometimes a fermented beverage is made, but the simpler, non-alcoholic version is shown here.