Swedish Tove Nilsson brews healthy carbonated soft drinks herself. She wrote the book Lemonade, fresh &snacks about it. One of her favorites is ginger beer. She shares the recipe with us.
Tove: 'One of my favorites. Nothing can compare to a ginger beer in which the sour freshness is perfectly balanced with the tingling of ginger.
Bring 600 ml water with both types of sugar and the ginger to the boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Place in a large glass jar, add 2.5 liters of water and allow to cool to room temperature. Place a strainer on the pot and add lemon juice and soda culture.
Cover with cheesecloth, which you secure with elastic. Leave soda at room temperature for 4 to 7 days. Stir the mixture a few times a day.
Taste after 4 days if you like the taste. The longer it stands, the drier it becomes, as the sugar is converted by the culture. Do not let the fermentation continue for too long, it should continue to smell fresh.
Strain the liquid and pour it into clean PET or glass bottles (330 ml). Make sure there is at least 5 cm of air under the cap. Close the bottles and let them sit for 1 to 2 days, so that enough carbon dioxide is formed. Keep the bottles in the fridge to stop the fermentation.”
Recipe from Lemonade, soda &snacks by Tove Nilsson, €17.50.
