This spicy but sweet drink is the perfect way to experience the tastes of West Africa from home. This 6 ingredient drink made with steeped ginger is great for a refreshing drink or a remedy for when you’re sick.
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While it’s fun making main courses, desserts, and appetizers from around the world, I also LOVE making global drink recipes. It’s so fun to make drink recipes from around the world because they give an easy and insightful view into the tastes of each country.
This Ginger Drink is a slightly spicy drink made by steeping ginger in water alongside spices and citrus juices.
This homemade ginger juice recipe is a perfect remedy for any time you are feeling just a bit under the weather, to take full advantage of the many health benefits of ginger. But honestly, the refreshing flavor and the slight zing of ginger is enjoyable any time!
You can enjoy this drink hot, cold or use it to add extra flavor to a variety of other drinks. No matter how you enjoy it, it’s sure to brighten your mood and lift your spirits from the inside out!
Recipe Origins
I made this recipe to celebrate the country of Guinea, but, in truth, it is popular across many countries in West Africa and goes by many names including tangawizi, gnamankoudji, gnamacoudji, or nyamakuji. Essentially these words translate to “chili water”.
Ginger likely made its way to Africa from China, where it was first cultivated thousands of years ago. Spice merchants helped spread the flavorful root through Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East.
In ancient times ginger was thought to be blessed by God and said to benefit a person physically and spiritually.
Arab immigrants brought ginger to Africa and today it can be found in many tropical climates, though China and India remain the top ginger producers in the world.
In Africa, ginger became a household staple and this popular ginger drink was developed to take full advantage of ginger’s magical health benefits.
In this interview with two Guinean brothers who are bottling their Ginger Drink (Ginjan) to sell, they recall that ginger juice was always sold in Guinea in a plastic bag. To drink the juice, you’d have to bite off the corner of the bag and drink through the hole that you ripped out.
Why Make This Recipe
- Simple: Though there are a few periods of rest in this recipe leading to a longer preparation time, the overall concept is very easy. Plus, there are only 6 ingredients (plus water)!
- Great for When You’re Sick: Though I can’t speak specifically to the health benefits of this recipe, I can tell you that when you have a head cold, it feels great to drink. To revitalize your nose and throat, have some of this Homemade Ginger Drink.
- “Travel” to Guinea: This recipe is a great way to experience the tastes of Guinea from your own home!
What Do I Need To Make This Recipe?
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Ginger Root: Fresh ginger is a must for this recipe. You can use a spoon to peel the ginger root. Then grate it on a fine cheese grater or zester.
- Lime Juice: Use fresh limes.
- Orange Juice: Use fresh navel oranges.
How to Peel Fresh Ginger
Ginger is a root and as such, it can be tough. At the same time, it is surprisingly easy to peel fresh ginger without any fancy equipment. All you need is a spoon.
To begin the peeling process, clean the ginger well. Use a vegetable brush to scrub away any leftover dirt so that it does not get into the flesh of the ginger.
Hold the ginger firmly in your hand and use the back of a teaspoon to scrape away at the skin. It should scrape away fairly easily.
A spoon is the best tool for this job because a knife or vegetable peeler may cut off too much skin, wasting some of the juicy flesh inside. Ginger is also gnarly and knotted and scraping with a spoon makes it easier to get over any bumps along the way.
How To Make This Recipe
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Step 1: Steep the Ginger
In a large bowl, add the freshly grated ginger root and the boiling water.
Add the sugar, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Use a spoon to mix the combination together. Put a lid on the bowl and set aside on the countertop for an hour.
When the hour is over, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Press the remaining ginger root with your hands to squeeze out any extra liquid. Discard the solids, but keep the liquid.
Step 2: Add The Citrus
Add the lime juice, orange juice, and water to the bowl. Put the lid back on the bowl and allow it to sit for another hour.
Step 3: Strain
After an hour, strain the liquid again, trying not to pour out any of the sediment at the bottom of the bowl. You can also strain the liquid through a nut milk bag.
Store in the fridge in a gallon jug or a large jar. Serve when ready… enjoy!
Variations
Ginger juice is one of those recipes that everyone has their own preferred method of making. Some people like the spice and flavor of ginger while some try to mask it by adding additional ingredients and fresh juice. Try adding these ingredients for even more flavor:
- Mint
- Lemon juice
- Pineapple
- Cucumber
- Coconut water
- Sparkling water
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
- Honey
- Vanilla
- Ginger ale
- Green apple
Expert Tips
- Some recipes call for Pineapple juice or pineapple essence. While this recipe doesn’t call for pineapple, it does sound delicious. Feel free to add it!
- Add a fresh squeeze of lime juice into each individual cup for some extra flavor.
- Some recipes for this Ginger Drink from Guinea also call for anise, lemon, or vanilla. Every recipe is different, depending on who makes it, so feel free to add whatever sounds good to you.
FAQs
While many articles call for serving this Ginger Drink chilled, you can also serve it warm as ginger tea. I specifically enjoy it with ice!
I diluted my recipe with 4 cups of water, but you can also use a blend of normal water and sparkling water for some extra kick.
You can also use this recipe to make ginger shots as an immunity booster or wellness shot, or add it to smoothies, green juice, cocktails, teas and other juices.
Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor or a health blogger, so I am not an expert on the health benefits of this drink.
However, research from health experts shows that ginger juice can reduce heart disease, relieve pain, assist with high blood pressure, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger has been shown to help relieve congestion, soothe sore throats, and improve your immune system. Many people believe ginger drinks can aid in weight loss.
For years ginger has been used as a remedy for nausea or an upset stomach as it can help with your digestive system and digestive issues.
For thousands of years, ginger has been considered magical and spiritual for its ability to heal the body.
If you don’t want to hand-grate the ginger root (I don’t blame you), then you do have other options. You can do any of the following:
Use a food processor
Use a blender
Use a garlic press
Use a mortar and pestle
If you are using a high speed blender or food processor to grate your ginger, I would recommend peeling it first. But if you are using a juicer to extract your ginger juice, you probably don’t need to peel it. Whatever method you use, make sure your ginger is fully clean before you grate it.
This juice is best fresh but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Be sure and give it a good shake before serving.
I also like to chill the juice for at least 30 minutes before serving fresh.
Fresh ginger juice also freezes well. Freeze it in ice cube trays to add a hint of ginger to smoothies, salad dressings or drinks.
If you have leftover ginger after making this drink, wrap it in parchment paper and store it in your refrigerator for up to three weeks. Use it for other recipes like meat marinades.
You can also freeze leftover ginger pulp or grated ginger and reserve ginger skins for marinades and broths.
You can absolutely add a bit of alcohol to this drink to make it even more enjoyable. It pairs well with a bit of rum or tequila.
Did you enjoy this Ginger Drink recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
Homemade Ginger Drink
Ingredients
- ½ cup Ginger root , fresh grated
- 3 cups Boiling water
- ½ cup granulated Sugar
- 1 tsp whole Cloves
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- ¼ cup Lime juice, fresh squeezed
- ½ cup Orange juice , fresh squeezed
- 4 cups Cool water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add ½ cup fresh grated ginger root and 3 cups boiling water.
- Add ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp whole cloves, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Use a spoon to mix the combination together. Put a lid on the bowl and set aside on the countertop for an hour.
- When the hour is over, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Press the remaining ginger root with your hands to squeeze out any extra liquid. Discard the solids, but keep the liquid.
- Add ¼ cup lime juice, ½ cup orange juice, and 4 cups water into the bowl. Put the lid back on the bowl and allow it to sit for another hour.
- After an hour, strain the liquid again, trying not to pour out any of the sediment at the bottom of the bowl.
- Store in the fridge in a gallon jug or a large jar. Serve when ready… enjoy!
Notes
- Ginger Root: Fresh ginger is a must for this recipe. You can use a spoon to peel the ginger root. Then grate it on a fine cheese grater or zester.
- Lime Juice: Use fresh limes.
- Orange Juice: Use fresh navel oranges.
- Some recipes call for Pineapple juice or pineapple essence. While this recipe doesn’t call for pineapple, it does sound delicious. Feel free to add it!
- Add a fresh squeeze of lime juice into each individual cup for some extra flavor.
- Some recipes for this Ginger Drink from Guinea also call for anise, lemon, or vanilla. Every recipe is different, depending on who makes it, so feel free to add whatever sounds good to you.
Laura says
This is so delicious! Thank you.
The Foreign Fork says
So glad you like it Laura! Thank you for the review 🙂
Kcs says
So good. Followed the recipe exactly and it is perfect! Thank you.
The Foreign Fork says
So glad you liked it KCS! Thank you for leaving a review 🙂