Ginger Lemonade

This Ginger Lemonade is a refreshing and sweet and tangy drink that is perfect for a hot summers’ day or at anytime.

The inspiration for this lemonade comes from a local Asian restaurant that I love here in Germany, Mr. Lian. They have awesome drinks and lemonades that are just so so good. They are kind of on the expensive side (for me, at least. lol) so I finally decided to make my own version of my favorite drink. And it does not disappoint.

Made with fresh ginger, limes, mint, and ginger beer (non-alcoholic), this is a drink that has a great combination of flavors and is so refreshing you’ll want to make it again and again.

Ingredients for Ginger Lemonade

• Fresh ginger – cut into long, thin pieces.
• Limes – make sure they are ones where the rind can be eaten as they get placed directly into the drink. In Germany that would only be organic limes as the non-organic ones get sprayed with something that should no be consumed. There is usually a note on the tag here saying the rinds can be consumed.
• Brown cane sugar – to balance out the tanginess of the lime.
• Ginger beer – can be substituted with ginger ale, but it is different, so the taste is slightly different.
• Fresh Mint – You’ll need some on a stem for garnish and also additional mint that goes directly into the drink which can also remain on a stem
• Ice cubes – For cooling the lemonade

Ginger Beer vs Ginger Ale

Yes, there is a difference and in my research and preparation of this recipe I finally found out what it is. Basically, ginger beer is made with real ginger, has less sugar (or sugar alternatives) and is more spicy. The most authentic versions are actually brewed (hence, the term ‘beer’). Ginger ale, on the other hand, is usually a carbonated drink made with ginger-flavored syrup and sugars. You can read up more on the differences and process of making the beer here.

I used the Australian Bundaberg brand of ginger beer (in these same glass bottles) to make this recipe as that is the only one I found at the local grocery store, here in Germany. And, to be truthful, I loved it!

Fun fact: Due to the purity laws here, the beer is not sold under the name ‘Ginger Beer’. Instead, manufacturers use other names such as ‘Ginger Brew’ or ‘Ginger b’, ‘Spicy Ginger’ or whatever other creative names they can come up with. Basically, the law says that beer can only contain certain ingredients (they are hops, malt, yeast and water) and if it contains something else, it can’t be sold under the term ‘beer’. (Read more about these purity laws here). Anyway, all of that just means that the same exact bottle of ginger beer here in Germany, says ‘Ginger Brew’ instead. Aren’t different countries fun?

How to Make Ginger Lemonade

This recipe is for an individual glass of ginger lemonade meant to be prepared for each person individually. It might be possible to prepare a pitcher for a crowd, but that is not something I tested. I used about half of the ginger beer bottle linked above to make one drink.

Place the brown sugar into a glass.

Cut the limes into fourths and squeeze out the lime juice directly into the glass and over the brown sugar. Swirl the juice and sugar once in a while as you prepare the rest of the recipe so that the sugar can dissolve.

Meanwhile, peel the ginger and cut thinly into slices and then into thin strips/pieces.

Rinse the mint. Squeeze some of the mint leaves (or even leaves with a stem) and add to the glass with the sugar lime syrup. Swirl a little.

Add the ginger pieces and some ice cubes and the squeezed out lime quarters (they still have enough juice in them). I like to arrange the ice and lime quarters in an alternating pattern so it’s not all in one place.

Pour ginger beer into the lemonade glass until full (the amount will vary depending on the amount of ice used). Stir a bit in order to mix the lime syrup with the ginger beer. Otherwise, all the sweet syrup will be on the bottom and the rest of the lemonade will be less sweet.

Insert a mint stem into the glass for garnish.

Serve immediately.

Tips and Tricks for Making Ginger Lemonade

• Juicing the lime – When cutting the lime, cut it perpendicular to ends not along the ends. I find it makes it easier to squeeze out more juice that way.
• Peeling the ginger – The easiest way to peel the ginger is to use a teaspoon and scrape the skin off. It comes off very easily.
• Amount of Ice Cubes: Using more ice cubes will give you a less sweeter drink that will cool down faster.
• Glass size: Note if your glasses are on the bigger side, you might need to double the amount of the drink. My glasses fit about a cup of ginger beer once the ice, lime, mint, and ginger are added.

Recipe Variations

My favorite variation for this drink is to use part ginger beer, part carbonated water. Generally, I leave some room at the top and then add the carbonated water. This variation makes the drink less sweet.

How to Store this drink

This ginger lemonade is meant to be enjoyed right away, as such, there are no instructions for storing. I recommend storing the ginger beer itself in the fridge for a few hours before preparing the drink. This will give you a cold drink without waiting for the ice to melt.

Recommended Tools

Some nice glasses for serving this ginger lemonade are a must (the mint, lime, ginger is well-displayed here) and glass drinking straws make the drink look more sophisticated. Here is an amazing set with pretty glasses and glass straws included.

More Easy Recipes for Drinks

• Lemon Iced Tea
• Kompot – Russian Berry Drink
• Homemade Orange Juice with Lemon and Ginger