Having a home-made ginger beer would be a way of promoting great taste, good health and home-brewing skills before your friends. There are valid reasons why it is a healthier option.
Introduction
Ginger beer is being touted as the best drink with healthy goodness thrown in over any carbonated or other alcoholic drinks. Surprised? Well the main beer brewing ingredient here is ginger root. Ginger has a myriad of benefits and is part of medicines and culinary products.
The vital compound in fresh ginger is gingerol which changes to ‘zingerone’ when heated. When dried, gingerol changes to ‘shagaol’ besides zingerone. Gingerol is the natural oil rich in magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper and vitamin B6.
Health Benefits of Ginger Beer
Not only is it refreshing, but ginger beer is also good for you. Let us look at some of its goodness.
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Helps with nausea and digestion
The active components in ginger stimulate saliva and bile production and also pancreatic lipase. Thus gingerol and shogaol help move food through the alimentary canal and reduce stomach discomfort. So, a ginger beer can be recommended for indigestion and morning sickness. Besides, it is natural and has no side-effects.
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Lowers risk of cancer
Some researches have shown that ginger beer’s active components inhibit growth of cancer cells and can kill colorectal cancer cells. Though the results are still not conclusive, ginger is a superfood to try and ward off cancer.
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Reduces inflammation
All the problems of osteoarthritis, gastritis, colitis, etc. are due to inflammation in the body from an overproduction of white blood cells. Ginger helps suppress the inflammation as well as control pain. Manganese and silicon present in ginger protect the lining of blood vessels. Our body’s glutathione works with potassium in ginger to detoxify the body.
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Special antibacterial properties
Extracts from ginger suppress four types of respiratory tract pathogens according to a study. Gingerol is effective in fighting against harmful fungi. So, it is better than a lot of antibiotics. Culinary recipes and traditional medicines use this property often.
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Slows aging and reduces the signs
Ginger beer helps release serotonin and dopamine and bring a sense of well-being. A glass of ginger beer will take away stress and lift the spirits. Stress-Free living is the best way to slow down aging and its signs. Also, ginger root is potent in treating mental problems.
Here’s How to Make Ginger Beer at Home?
The recipe needs simple beer brewing ingredients and an easy method – what better than this. All you need are fresh (or dried, though not preferable) ginger, sugar, lemon juice, and enough water. In case you want to speed up the process, you must use yeast and cream of tartar for fermentation. Here are the two ways of how to make ginger beer at home.
The easy process will have the following steps.
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Mix grated ginger, cream of tartar and lemon juice with 4 cups of water and bring to boil.
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Reduce heat once it reaches a full boil and add sugar and stir till dissolved.
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Add cold water and cool to about 23 degrees Celsius and add the yeast.
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Cover with a towel and leave to rest in a warm, dark place for three hours.
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Strain and bottle in plastic or glass bottles with screw-on or swing tops.
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Let it ferment for 2 to 3 days in a warm, dark place while loosening the caps from time-to-time to release pressure.
Your ginger beer is ready to bottle and refrigerate if you want to stop the fermentation. The more authentic process of how to make ginger beer at home is to create the ginger bug first. So there are two parts.
Step 1: Mix grated ginger, sugar, and water in a glass jar; cover with a towel and keep to ferment for 5 to 7 days.
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Once a day add sugar and grated ginger to the mix.
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Keep checking for bubbles and yeasty smell.
Step 2: Boil water, grated ginger, sugar and salt for about 5 minutes.
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Cool and strain.
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Add the previously made strained ginger bug.
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Mix lemon juice and pour into bottles. Ferment like mentioned in the previous process for 10 days.
In the end, get this amazing beer brewing ingredient home and serve an enviable cocktail to guests.
Learn more about the Abbey Belgian beer.