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I grew up drinking ginger beer as a kid. At parties, those who brought the ginger beer would put it in empty water bottles and store them in a cooler. You would have to make sure you snatched up a bottle or else they would be gone within a blink of an eye 😂. My cousins and I would grab ours and stash it so no one would take it lol 😂😂.
I actually didn't like it as much when people would make it too spicy. Now as an adult I can control the level of heat and spike it with some tequila if I'm in the mood.
Historical Background of Ginger Beer
I grew up thinking ginger beer was a drink originating either from Africa or the Caribbean but it's originally from England created in the 1700s. It is not an actual "beer" as you may think. It was first known as a fermented alcoholic beverage made from sugar, ginger, water, and a starter culture known as ginger beer plant. This drink doesn't contain alcohol and is often sold as a soft drink. Few brands sell it with alcohol.
I like to mix my ginger beer with pineapple juice and other tropical juices. It's the perfect drink for these hot days ahead. It's also super easy to make. I'm looking forward to having another glass 😉🍹. Try out the recipe below at home. CHEERS!
SIERRA LEONE GINGER BEER RECIPE
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Sitting Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 cup fresh ginger root
1/2 cup - 1 cup sugar (adjust to your taste)
7 cups boiled water
2 limes
½ teaspoon whole cloves
⅓ cup water
Tools
Medium size pot
Wooden spoon
Pitcher
Large bowl
Flout sack cloth, thin cloth, or sieve
Instructions
Peel ginger and cut into medium to large pieces.
Add peeled ginger and ⅓ cup water to a blender. Puree into a paste.
Add puree mixture to a large bowl and set aside.
Bring 7 cups of water to a boil then add boiled water to puree mixture in the large bowl.
Stir and sit covered for 1-2 hours. This will allow ginger flavor to become more pronounced.
Strain the ginger liquid through a strainer or very thin cloth until all of the pulp is gone.
Note: if using a cloth, lay the cloth over a bowl and pour the ginger liquid into the cloth leaving behind the pulp. Gather up the cloth on all sides until it favors a knapsack and squeeze all the water out.
7. Once all the ginger pulp is separated add sugar and stir until all the sugar is dissolved. Then add lime juice and stir again.
8. Serve cold with your favorite food.
Notes:
Adding any kind of tropical fruit juice is a nice twist to this refreshing drink.
Lemons can be used as a substitute for limes.
After the ginger beer settles, you will see that it is cloudy at the bottom. That is called the heat. If you do not want the drink to be spicy then leave the heat behind when pouring the drink. If you do not mind the heat then stir the drink and enjoy.