Nana's Ginger Beer | Community Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

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Introduction

One of the few recipes handed down in my family is this recipe for a Ginger Beer Plant and Ginger Beer. It's delicious, refreshing and naturally carbonated. All cup measures are metric cups, and Aussie tablespoons are 20ml measures not 15ml

Ingredients

Serves: Makes about a dozen 750ml bott

For the Ginger Beer Plant

  • 8 golden raisins
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 2½ cups water

For the Ginger Beer

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 5 cups boiling water
  • 3 lemons (strained juice of)
  • 14 pints water

Method

Nana's Ginger Beer is a community recipe submitted by Coby and has not been tested by Nigella.com so we are not able to answer questions regarding this recipe.

  • First make your plant by combining all ginger beer plant ingredients (golden raisins, juice, rind, sugar, ginger and water) in a screw top jar and leave for two to three days.
  • Then, for the next seven days feed your plant daily by stirring in 2 tsp ground ginger and 1 tbsp sugar each day.
  • To make the ginger beer, place the sugar in a large basin and stir in the boiling water. Continue to stir until dissolved. My family always used regular granulated sugar here, not caster - it's up to you what you choose.
  • Cover with fine muslin (my Nana used an old, clean but worn piece of sheet) and pour the ginger beer onto the muslin. Pull up the sides and squeeze out all the moisture you can from the plant, until it's as dry as can be.
  • Stir in the lemon juice and 8 litres of water.
  • Store in sterilised, screw top bottles leaving a space of at least 'three fingers' at the top to allow for expansion - lest they explode.
  • Store carefully, especially in warmer months. Ideally do not open for three to four days, at which time it should be delicious and fizzy.

Additional Information

My father tells me they never had an explosion, but he knew of plenty of people who did- he surmises mostly due to not leaving the space to expand. He also tells me that those who bottled theirs with a cork, often heard the corks pop off, especially in warmer weather! This recipe is true to my Nana's original recipe, apart from my Dad converting it to metric back in the 1990's. I love knowing that my father used to get to feed the plant as a child and that he could never wait the three days to drink it. The final product is expected to have some sediment at the bottom, I suspect this is due to squeezing the contents of the muslin/sheet. I am told though you must do this, to ensure the fullest flavour.

Tell us what you think

What 5 Others have said

  • Recipe is wrong. You MUST wait for the liquid to cool before adding contents of ginger plant. I now have seven litres of flat ginger beer.

    Posted by Philealing on 17th June 2020
  • This is great, only difference in method from mine is that you dump the bottle of ginger culture into the cooled sugar, water and lemon. Leave it overnight and then strain and bottle. Take half the ginger culture at the end (discard the other half) and put it into a jar with a cup of water and start feeding it again for ten days then repeat.

    Posted by MarkANorrie on 16th March 2020
  • I'm wondering what country measurements this is using.UK pints are different to the USA pints.

    Posted by Osram on 15th June 2019
  • If you add the ginger beer plant to the sugar water when it is over 30 degrees the heat will kill it and secondary fermentation will not take place. It is better to add the heated water and sugar to the additional water - check the temp is about 25 degrees before adding the plant

    Posted by Jedgor on 4th June 2018
  • Hello i was just wondering if i put a cap on the jar while fermenting and feeding of my ginger beer plant?

    Posted by Beerbaron91 on 1st November 2015

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Nana's Ginger Beer | Community Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (1)

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Nana's Ginger Beer | Community Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long do you leave ginger beer to ferment? ›

Bottle in sealable bottles: Recycle plastic soda bottles with screw tops; rubber gasket “bail-top” bottles that Grolsch and some other premium beers use; sealable juice jugs; or capped beer bottles, as described in chapter 11. Leave bottles to ferment in a warm spot for about 2 weeks. Cool before opening.

Why do you put raisins in ginger beer? ›

Others say the raisins are added to supply nutrients for the yeast. The ginger and sugar alone cannot host a very healthy yeast colony without the trace minerals supplied by the raisins. Whatever the case, your ginger beer needs it. They're also edible (at own risk).

How is ginger beer traditionally made? ›

ginger beer, beverage, once popular in the United Kingdom, made by fermenting a mixture of ginger, water, sugar, cream of tartar, and yeast. Lemon peel and juice or citric acid may also be added. Ginger beer is bottled before fermentation is complete.

Is my homemade ginger beer alcoholic? ›

The trick is, depending on how long you ferment your ginger beer and how much sugar you start with, the alcohol content can vary a lot. During the process of fermentation, bacteria and yeast eat the sugar in your soda syrup and turn it into byproducts that include alcohol.

What happens if you let ginger beer ferment too long? ›

Let ginger beer ferment too long, it's very dry and has no sweetness at all. Almost unpleasant.

How do you know when ginger beer is done fermenting? ›

Allow the mix to ferment for at least 5 days – this is a minimum and extra time in the fermenter won't hurt it. You can leave it to ferment for up to 2 weeks without issue. The airlock should have stopped bubbling before bottling. Once the fermentation is done, it's time to bottle up the ginger beer.

Why does ginger beer help stomach? ›

Nausea Relief and Improved Digestion

Gingerol, one of the natural components of ginger root, encourages digestion, which in turn can relieve nausea. Pregnant persons with morning sickness or those going through chemotherapy can greatly benefit from ginger, as it is a natural alternative to many anti-nauseas.

Why is ginger beer healthy? ›

Ginger's active compounds are an effective agent for activating various digestive functions such as bile production and pancreatic lipase stimulation, which help enhance the body's energy flow and ultimately help the body burn fat. Plus, ginger is all natural, proven to be safe, and does not have side effects.

Is ginger beer good for you? ›

It is made with ginger, sugar, water, and yeast and can be either alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Ginger beer has several health benefits, including supporting digestive health, boosting the immune system, and relieving nausea. It can also be used in co*cktails and mocktails.

Why is ginger beer so expensive? ›

It is expensive to do it, and ginger juice makes such a big component that to make it it's our highest cost per production beer that we make.

What is a fun fact about ginger beer? ›

Despite the name, this fizzy beverage is entirely non-alcoholic. The term "beer" originated from the traditional fermentation process used in its production. The ginger beer we know today is crafted through a combination of ginger, sugar, and carbonation, making it a versatile and enjoyable drink for all ages.

Can homemade ginger beer go bad? ›

Once opened, ginger beer remains fresh for 2-3 days if stored in the fridge. In the case of homemade ginger beer, it maintains best quality for about 1-2 weeks in the fridge.

What alcohol goes good with ginger beer? ›

Rum & Ginger Beer co*cktails

Whether it's white rum, dark rum or spiced rum, the rich taste of rum gives an added depth of flavor to our zingy Ginger Beer.

What alcohol to add to ginger beer? ›

The Moscow Mule is a classic mix of ginger beer and vodka. If you steep the vodka with lemongrass and grapefruit to make aquavit then you have a variation called a Swedish Mule, while swapping the vodka out for gin and adding a little mint makes a Gin-Gin Mule.

How long should I let my beer ferment? ›

The typical fermentation takes two weeks when making ale and four to eight weeks when making lager. For more on the distinction between the two, see our post going over the difference between ale and lager.

How long to ferment ginger beer yeast? ›

After a week and a half to two weeks, the yeast should have eaten up most of the sugar in the bottle. This means your ginger beer is ready to open up and taste! If you have multiple bottles, open one and taste test. Add more sugar or lemon juice if you think your ginger beer needs it.

Why won t my ginger beer ferment? ›

YOU MUST LET IT COOL BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE NEXT STEP. Heat will kill your microbes and your ginger beer won't ferment.

How long should homemade beer ferment? ›

The short answer is that, on average, it takes about four hours to brew beer, one to two weeks to ferment and condition, two hours to package in bottles, and one to two weeks to naturally carbonate in bottles. So, trom start to finish, on average, it takes anywhere from two to four weeks to make beer.

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