Ginger bug? Fermented soda

last month

I am thinking of trying to get a ginger bug going. Has anyone done this before? There is some beautiful fresh thin skinned ginger root at the grocery store of late. I bought several large rhizomes today.

I was wondering if I grated and froze the ginger if it would interfere with the fermentation. I heat with wood which makes the air in my home very low humidity. Things dry out quickly.

Featured Answer

colleenoz

last month

"Ginger plant" means the combination of ginger, sugar and other ingredients that you add to water and allow to naturally ferment to produce ginger beer, a ginger flavoured version of home made root beer. Once it has combined with wild yeast from the air, it becomes a living thing that needs to be regularly fed with more sugar. Usually one drops a few white raisins into the mix at the start as there are generally some yeast cells clinging to the outside of them.

It's not a plant with leaves and roots etc.

When the process is complete, you have a mildly fizzy, ginger flavoured soft drink.

If you bottle it before the yeast is exhausted, it continues to ferment in the bottle and pressure builds up, often resulting in a messy explosion. When I used to make ginger beer, we kept the bottles in a closet in a sturdy plastic crate with a number of old telephone books piled on top. We had a friend who kept his in a kitchen cupboard and a rogue bottle blew the door off.

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Comments (12)

colleenoz
last month
I have only ever used ground ginger for making ginger beer, but I guess that's evidence that the fermentation process is not as a result of the ginger. The yeast for fermentation is airborne.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
Yep. My mum only ever used dried ginger (she hammered a root) for making ginger beer. The ginger beer 'plant' lurked in the pantry looking distinctly weird. But it made a good drink. I've not made it myself.
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neely
last month
So long ago as a child it was my job to feed the ginger plant and bottle up the ginger beer. We had exploding bottles only once and as they were kept outdoors until brought in to go into the fridge, there was little harm done.
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CA Kate z9
last month
last modified: last month
That is all new to me. I don't understand a "Ginger plant" . I understand about getting a nice, fresh root. I even know about slice it up and freezing it. I have even tried to grow a Ginger Plant outdoor--- in the garden; but never in the pantry! Please explain?!

Also, I never "fermented" Ginger. Please explain?
Lars
last month
last modified: last month
Here's a Brad Leone video of him making ginger beer:

Recipes I've seen online for ginger beer often have yeast, and some have lemon juice. Some say that you can use frozen ginger.
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colleenoz
last month
IME adding yeast is entirely superfluous. The ginger beer has no problem finding its own yeast.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last month
Agreed. Yeast was never added at home.
itsfun2save
last month
Wow, very interesting! Ginger plant in terms of a beverage is new to me also. I have never tried it. This is the first time I heard about it. Anyone planning on making it? I would love to see pics of your process!
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agmss15
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
My ’bug’ is three days old. I have fed it more sugar and ginger every day. There are a few bubbles forming on top of the mix. Considering my house tends to be on the cool side I think that is a good sign. I will try to report on my results when I get to the drink stage.

Also after a dive into my chest freezer I realize that I still have about 20 pounds of frozen blackberries/blueberries. So I am planning on a berry ginger soda.
itsfun2save
last month
agmss, berry ginger sounds delicious! 😋 Please share pics if you can. I would love to see how it's coming along.
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agmss15
Original Author
last month
Attempted my first soda on Sunday. Steeped a mix of blueberries, ginger, sugar, a few rock hard candied orange slices in boiling water then strained when tepid and added the bug. Yesterday it popped when I burped the bottles, this morning I got fizziness. I will try it tonight or tomorrow. It is pretty at least.
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Ginger bug? Fermented soda

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