Make Your Own Naturally-Carbonated Ginger Ale (2024)


Make Your Own Naturally-Carbonated Ginger Ale (1)

How to make delicious ginger ale at home

I used to be addicted to a major brand of cola. I kicked my habit on February 11, 2017. Not that I'm counting or anything.

That might not sound like much unless you too have been addicted to cola. If you are/were, you know how hard it is to give it up.

In the past I'd tried to stop drinking cola at home but thought I could still drink it when we went out to eat. I know now that isn't possible, at least for me. I had to do it cold turkey.

And so far I've been successful. But oh, sometimes I miss those carbonated bubbles.

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I never managed to get much carbonation in my attempts to brew kombucha, but my natural, homemade ginger ale has never failed to have a fair bit of fizz.

So this weekend I made a batch of ginger ale that I can sip on when I need "bubbles." Am I strange to crave those bubbles? Maybe. I don't know of anyone else who says that's the part they miss about soft drinks.

Soft drinks used to be good for you

Soft drinks actually began as medicinal drinks to cure ailments such as indigestion, headaches and psychological disorders.

Eventually those non-FDA-approved "medicinal" ingredients had to be removed from the drinks, but flavored, carbonated beverages continued to gain popularity.

Nowadays commercial soft drinks are made from a list of chemicals that I can't even pronounce, with nothing good in them at all. I have no desire to pour these chemical brews down my throat any more!

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Homemade ginger ale is still good for you

On the other side of the coin, ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties and that it can help digestion, reduce nausea, lower blood sugar and cholesterol, fight the flu and colds, and can boost the immune system.

Ginger ale is simply ginger, filtered water, sugar and lemon juice. Yes, it does contain sugar, but the amount compared to a can of cola is much, much lower. The drink is then fermented and naturally carbonated.

How to make naturally-carbonated ginger ale

Although I don't use a lot of plastic in the kitchen anymore, this method of making ginger ale uses a 2-liter plastic bottle so you can test the amount of fermentation without worrying about a glass bottle exploding on your counter.

Ingredients

2 inches of fresh ginger
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup filtered water

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Grate the ginger as fine as possible. Add ginger and sugar to the water in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves.

Remove from the heat, cover and let steep for an hour.

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Pour through a fine cloth set over a bowl (I use clothespins to attach a clean handkerchief to my canning funnel), and then squeeze the cloth well to release all the juice. Discard the pulp - I add it to my compost pile.

Let the ginger tea cool to room temperature.

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Pour the liquid into the plastic 2-liter bottle, using a funnel.

Add the following to the bottle:

7 cups filtered water
1/8 tsp yeast
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Put the cap on the bottle, shake gently and leave at room temperature for 48 hours. Check the bottle by squeezing; if there isn't any give to the bottle, you might need to refrigerate before 48 hours.

Open the bottle to check the amount of carbonation and refrigerate when it has "enough."

You can store the bottle of ginger ale in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, but open the bottle each day to let out excess carbonation.

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My bottle was ready a little before the usual 48 hours; the plastic bottle was extremely tight and full with no give when I tried to squeeze it.

When I took the top off {carefully} I was rewarded by a huge "whoosh" and lots and lots of bubbles!

How to store your natural ginger ale

Homemade ginger ale should be kept in the refrigerator and consumed within two weeks. Check the bottle daily and "burp" it if the plastic doesn't give at all when you try to squeeze it.

If you like bubbles, try making this naturally-fermented ginger ale at home.

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Make Your Own Naturally-Carbonated Ginger Ale (7)




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Make Your Own Naturally-Carbonated Ginger Ale (2024)

FAQs

Is ginger ale naturally carbonated? ›

ginger ale, a sweetened carbonated beverage of which the predominating flavour and pleasant warmth are derived mainly from the underground stem, or rhizome, of ginger Zingiber officinale. Though originally carbonated by fermentation, modern ginger ales are artificially saturated with carbon dioxide gas.

How do you carbonate ginger beer naturally? ›

You have two options for carbonating your ginger beer: you can ferment it in the bottle, or you can carbonate on-the-fly with an iSi soda siphon. While the soda siphon is easier to use, for the sake of authenticity you might want your ginger beer fermented in the bottle.

Does Canada Dry Ginger Ale have real ginger in it? ›

Made with the crisp, refreshing ginger taste you've always loved, Canada Dry Ginger Ale is an unparalleled classic. Serving Size: 12 fl. oz. Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP AND LESS THAN 2% OF: GINGER EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), CARAMEL COLOR.

What's the healthiest ginger ale? ›

Zevia Zero Calorie Ginger Ale

Based on the nutrition label, this ginger ale is the healthiest with 0 of everything. It's made with carbonated water, stevia, natural flavors, citric acid and ginger extract.

How to get carbonation out of ginger ale? ›

Pour ginger ale into a glass and stir in sugar. Watch the bubbles come up to the top and disappear!

Why does ginger ale have so much carbonation? ›

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.

How do you carbonate a drink naturally? ›

Using yeast
  1. Fill a gallon-sized bottle with a warm beverage you want to carbonate; the yeast will not work in cold water.
  2. Add yeast. ...
  3. Cap the bottle and shake it well.
  4. Place the bottle in a dark, warm place for a few days to ferment.
  5. Once it's ready, refrigerate the bottle to halt the fermentation process.

How much sugar to carbonate ginger beer? ›

Bottle the brew using 2 carbonation drops per 740ml-750ml bottle (that is a priming rate of 8g per litre) Sugar or dextrose may be used at the rate of 8g per litre (approximately 6g of sugar to a level metric teaspoon).

Is homemade ginger beer fizzy? ›

Ginger beer is traditionally carbonated (and fermented) with ginger beer plant, a bacterial-fungal symbiotic organism, but today's homebrewers can use simple champagne yeast or forced carbonation.

Did Canada Dry get sued for no ginger? ›

A class-action lawsuit against the makers of Canada Dry ginger ale has been settled for $200,000. A B.C. man alleged that the advertising slogan “Made from Real Ginger” was misleading as the product contained no ginger. Victor Cardoso claimed he bought the product because ginger had medicinal benefits.

Does ginger ale actually help your stomach? ›

Ginger ale could actually do more harm than good.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Lukasz Kwapisz, of Gastro Health in Miami, explained that the high sugar content in ginger ale and other sodas — usually upward of 30 grams per serving — can actually make stomach troubles worse.

Which ginger ale is best for the stomach? ›

While you can still drink a cup of ginger ale if you're feeling nauseous, the main thing to remember is the kind of ginger ale that you're drinking. Since ginger root is what can help to alleviate discomfort, seek out a brand made with real ginger root, even ginger beer would be a better option.

Is it OK to drink ginger ale everyday? ›

Despite the health benefits of ginger, ginger ale still falls into the category of soft drinks or sodas, so it's not a health food. If you choose to consume ginger ale, it's best to do so in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. Many commercial ginger ale drinks use artificial ginger flavoring.

Who should not drink ginger ale? ›

“Most commercial-brand ginger ales have at least 10 teaspoons of sugar,” says Dr. Goldman. “If a person has bloating, gas or indigestion, the carbonation and sugar may make it worse. Even diet ginger ale can be harmful because our bodies may not digest artificial sugars as well.”

When not to take ginger? ›

Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions, and people with diabetes should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. DO NOT take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.

Is ginger ale healthier than soda? ›

In the case of artificially flavored ginger ale, the beverage has no more health benefits than any other soda, which, of course, are zero. But in the case of ginger ale flavored by real ginger root, the beverage has marginally more health benefits than other soft drinks.

Is ale naturally carbonated? ›

Because the yeast is still present and alive in real ale, a slow process of secondary fermentation continues in the cask or bottle on the way to the consumer, allowing the beer to retain its natural carbonation.

What's the difference between ginger ale and dry ginger ale? ›

There are two primary forms of ginger ale; golden ginger ale and dry or pale, ginger ale. Golden ginger ale is darker, sweeter, and spicier, while dry ginger ale is lighter with a more subtle taste.

Is ginger ale good for your stomach? ›

Ginger ale could actually do more harm than good.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Lukasz Kwapisz, of Gastro Health in Miami, explained that the high sugar content in ginger ale and other sodas — usually upward of 30 grams per serving — can actually make stomach troubles worse.

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