Fresh Ginger Water
A refreshing, lightly spicy drink made with fresh ginger, water, lemon, and a touch of honey. It’s simple to prepare and delicious served warm or chilled.Makes: About 4 cups
Prep time: 5 minutes
Simmering time: 10–15 minutes
Difficulty: Very easy
Ingredients
- 4 cups (950 ml) water
- 2–3 oz (60–85 g) fresh ginger root
- 1 lemon
- 1–2 tablespoons honey, optional
- 2–3 fresh mint leaves, optional
- Ice, for serving
1. Prepare the ginger
Rinse the ginger thoroughly.
You can peel it with the edge of a teaspoon, although peeling isn’t strictly necessary if it’s well washed.
Slice the ginger into thin pieces.
The thinner you slice it, the more quickly its flavor will infuse into the water.
For a stronger ginger flavor, lightly crush the slices with the flat side of a knife.
2. Simmer the ginger
Pour the water into a saucepan.
Add the sliced ginger.
Bring the water to a gentle boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes.
For a mild ginger water, simmer closer to 10 minutes.
For a stronger, spicier drink, simmer for 15–20 minutes.
3. Strain
Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Pour the ginger water through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof jug.
Discard the ginger pieces.
Allow the drink to cool slightly.
4. Add lemon and honey
While the water is warm but not boiling, squeeze in the juice of half to one lemon.
Add honey to taste.
Stir until the honey dissolves completely.
Adding the lemon after cooking keeps its fresh, bright flavor.
5. Serve
Warm
Pour into a mug and enjoy immediately.
Add a thin slice of lemon and a few pieces of fresh ginger for presentation.
Cold
Let the ginger water cool completely.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Serve over plenty of ice with lemon slices and fresh mint.
Quick Cold-Infused Ginger Water
If you don’t want to simmer anything, make a simple infused version.
Add to a large pitcher:
- 1 liter cold water
- 1–2 oz (30–60 g) thinly sliced fresh ginger
- ½ lemon, thinly sliced
- A few mint leaves
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours.
The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor becomes.
Strain before serving if desired.
Strong Ginger Water
For a much more concentrated ginger flavor, use:
- 4 cups water
- 3–4 oz fresh ginger
- Juice of 1 lemon
Simmer for 20 minutes.
Strain and dilute with additional cold water if it’s too strong.
This concentrated version can also be refrigerated and diluted as needed.
Flavor Variations
Ginger Lime Water
Replace the lemon with fresh lime juice.
Ginger Mint Water
Add a generous handful of fresh mint after the ginger has finished simmering. Let it steep for 5 minutes before straining.
Ginger Cucumber Water
Add thin cucumber slices to the cooled ginger water and refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Ginger Orange Water
Add a few strips of orange zest while simmering, then finish with fresh orange juice.
Ginger Honey Lemon
Use extra honey and lemon for a sweet, bright, warming drink.
Storage
Store homemade ginger water in a covered container in the refrigerator and use within 2–3 days for the best flavor.
If you notice an unusual smell, flavor, or appearance, discard it.
Tips
- More ginger = stronger and spicier.
- Longer simmering = deeper ginger flavor.
- Add lemon after cooking for a fresher taste.
- Add honey while the drink is warm so it dissolves easily.
- Fresh ginger gives a much more vibrant flavor than powdered ginger.
For a balanced everyday version, I recommend 2 oz (60 g) ginger, 4 cups water, the juice of ½ lemon, and 1 tablespoon honey. It gives you a pleasantly spicy but refreshing ginger water without becoming overwhelmingly hot.
