Simmering fresh ginger root in water before adding the syrup helps pull out the peppery kick of ginger. This Ginger Simple Syrup is easy to make, versatile, and a fabulous addition to any home bar, mocktail lineup, or DIY Italian soda bar.
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Why this works
- Simmering the ginger in water before adding sugar helps extract more flavor.
- Adding sugar after the water is infused with ginger helps ensure the syrup doesn't boil down, which means you'll get consistent results every time.
Related: Curious about the differences between ginger ale and ginger beer? Check out my Ginger Ale vs Ginger Beer A Quick Overview article.
How to make it
Making ginger simple syrup is very similar to making tea.
In short, simmer ginger and water, then mix in the sugar. The full recipe is below.
Tip: If you want a stronger ginger flavor, double the amount of fresh ginger.
Fresh ginger, diced, about one cup.
If you like weight measurements, 120-150 grams of fresh ginger is a good ballpark.
Boil water and ginger until water is reduced.
Strain liquid to remove ginger.
Add sugar to ginger water and stir until it's fully dissolved.
Once cooled, pour the syrup into a storage bottle or jar.
Ingredient Notes:
Fresh ginger: This can be found in the produce aisle of most major grocery stores. International stores are more likely to have a higher quality of ginger and more to pick from.
Note: Dried ginger slices can be used. However, candied ginger or powdered ginger CANNOT be used.
Granulated Sugar: Plain granulated sugar is recommended due to its consistent results. The ginger flavor is strong enough that brown sugar is a suitable alternative. Monkfruit, stevia, or alternative sweeteners are not ideal for this, and I recommend against them as the consistency (which is important for drinks) and sweetness level will vary dramatically.
Related: SIMPLE SYRUPS FOR DRINKS: THE BASICS YOU NEED TO KNOW
The above picture shows the difference between slices of fresh ginger and dried ground ginger, also known as ginger powder.
Where to use it
It can be added to most drinks, such as lemonades, mocktails, Italian sodas, or other craft beverages.
It can also be used on top of ice cream or frozen yogurt or drizzled over a fresh fruit salad. It's especially delicious if the fruit salad has mint in it!
Note: Ginger can be surprisingly peppery. BUT the sugar cuts through that spicy kick. I strongly recommend testing recipes that require ginger simple syrup.
Tip: If you have leftover fresh ginger, it can be frozen whole for later use.
Related: Cardamom Simple Syrup Sage Simple Syrup
Equipment
Small saucepan
Fine wire-mesh strainer
Storage bottle
Related: Check out the Tools and Tips for Simple Syrups article for product recommendations and explanations.
Tips
The longer you boil and steep the ginger in the water, the spicier the syrup will become.
If you want as super intense ginger syrup, use twice the ginger the recipe calls for, but keep the amount of final liquid and sugar.
Similarly, you can leave the ginger in the syrup once it's finished. It will continue to release its ginger flavor, and when you finally take it out, you can snack on it at your leisure. (I do. All the time. It's wonderful if you love ginger.)
Use a funnel to transfer the syrup to a storage bottle. It's worth doing in your sink to avoid sticky spills.
Hosting Tips
Garnishing a ginger based drink with some crystalized ginger can be a fun garnish. Most stores sell grystalized ginger in the dried fruit section. Don't hesistate to ask a store employee if you need help! Blame it on "your friend" (me) - "My friend needs me to pick up some crystalized ginger."
Cheers!
Susan
FAQ
Sort of! You will need to use a lot of ginger teabags and you'll need to make sure it doesn't have anything other than ginger in the ingredients. Using a tea with turmeric, black pepper, licorice, anise, stevia, or cinnamon (which are all common ingredients in ginger tea blends) will result in a very different syrup.
Yes! If you have frozen ginger in your freezer, go for it. You don't need to adjust the quantity.
Maybe. Straining out all the ginger paste will be very hard and likely more effort than going to the store to buy fresh ginger. I have not personally tried it. However, if you try it, please let me know how it goes!
📖 Recipe
Ginger Simple Syrup
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Fine mesh strainer
- Storage bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh ginger root peeled and finely diced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Simmer the gingerIn a small saucepan add the ginger and water. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer on low for 30 minutes, or until water has reduced by about half.
- SteepRemove pan from heat, cover, and allow the ginger to steep for an additional 30 minutes while the liquid cools.
- Strain and add sugarRemove the ginger from the water and strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Measure out one cup of the ginger water into a small mixing bowl. Add the sugar and stir until it's fully dissolved.
- StoreTransfer to an airtight storage container. Store in the fridge for up to four weeks.
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