Ginger Bug Ginger Beer
A naturally fizzy, spicy ginger beer brewed with a ginger bug starter instead of yeast sachets. Sharp, cloudy and refreshing.
- Time1 hr over 8 days
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.40 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- 180kcal
- 45.8gcarbs
- 43.5gof which sugars
- 0.1gfat
- 0gsaturates
- 0.5gprotein
- 0.7gfibre
- 0.0gsalt
A rough estimate worked out from the ingredients, for the serving size above. It is a guide only and not medical advice. If you count carbs or manage diabetes, check with your own tools and your care team.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Start the ginger bug: in a clean jar, stir 2 tbsp grated unpeeled ginger (about 20 g) and 2 tbsp sugar into 250 ml water. Cover with a cloth. Each day for 5 to 7 days add 1 tbsp grated ginger and 1 tbsp sugar. It is ready when it is fizzy and smells yeasty and gingery.
- 2
When the bug is ready, thinly slice the remaining ginger (about 80 g). Put it in a pan with 750 ml water and 150 g sugar. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
15 min - 3
Take off the heat, add the remaining 500 ml cold boiled water and the lemon juice. Cool until at room temperature, or the heat will kill the bug.
- 4
Strain the ginger liquid and discard the ginger. Strain 125 ml of the bug through a sieve and stir it in.
- 5
Pour into clean plastic fizzy drink bottles with a funnel, leaving 4 cm of air at the top. Seal tightly.
- 6
Leave at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Squeeze the bottle each day: when it feels very hard, chill it straight away. Chill for at least 6 hours before opening slowly over the sink, because it can foam.
- 7
Safety notes: use plastic bottles, never glass, as pressure can build up. The drink contains traces of natural alcohol, so keep it away from children and anyone avoiding alcohol. Drink within 2 weeks and keep chilled.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
