Ginger Bug

Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Popular
Ginger Bug
8650 min.
8
137kcal

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Hey fellow foodies! Ever wanted to create your own bubbly, naturally fermented sodas at home? I'm so excited to share this gem with you: the Ginger Bug! It's surprisingly simple to make, and the possibilities are endless once you have this little fermentation powerhouse bubbling away in your kitchen.

The Ginger Bug is a live culture, similar to a sourdough starter, that's made with ginger, sugar, and water. It's a fantastic way to naturally carbonate beverages, giving them a delightful fizz and a unique, slightly spicy ginger flavor. This recipe is perfect for anyone following a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free lifestyle. Also, it's a popular fermentation project, which can add benefit your gut health as an added plus!

Imagine crafting your own ginger ale, sparkling fruit juices, or even herbal teas with a natural, probiotic-rich boost! Think about the complex flavors you can achieve and how wonderful it is to know that this is something you did from scratch! I can not wait to show you how you can do this from your kitchen!

It does require a little patience (about 6 days total), but the active work is minimal, and the results are truly worth it. This recipe creates approximately 8 servings of delicious, fizzy goodness, and clocks in at just 137 calories per serving. Let's dive in and create some fermentation magic!

Ingredients

  • cups water 
  • teaspoons sugar 
  • ounce ginger fresh diced
  • teaspoons sugar 
  • 2.5 ounces ginger fresh diced
  • cups herbal tea sweetened

Equipment

  • sauce pan

Directions

  1. Preparing the Bug
  2. Warm the water in a saucepan over medium heat, and stir in the jaggery until it dissolves fully. Cool the sugar water to room temperature.
  3. Drop the ginger into a pint-sized jar, and then cover it with the sugar water. Seal the jar, and let it culture at room temperature for one day.
  4. Feeding the Bug
  5. The next day, and each day for 5 days, stir 1 teaspoon sugar and 1/2 ounce ginger into the jar, and then close the jar tightly. Between 3 and 5 days, you should start to see bubbles forming, and your bug should smell yeasty and gingery. When you see bubbles, your bug is ready to use.
  6. Using the Bug
  7. To use the bug, strain 1/2 cup of the liquid and mix it with 7 1/2 cups liquid such as fruit juice or sweetened herbal tea, bottle and ferment up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories137kcal
Protein1.35%
Fat2.73%
Carbs95.92%

Properties

Glycemic Index
26.37
Glycemic Load
13.95
Inflammation Score
-2
Nutrition Score
2.3769565366371%

Flavonoids

Cyanidin
0.05mg
Catechin
3.1mg
Epicatechin
11.68mg
Myricetin
0.02mg
Quercetin
1.44mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:137.48kcal
6.87%
Fat:0.43g
0.66%
Saturated Fat:0.08g
0.5%
Carbohydrates:33.71g
11.24%
Net Carbohydrates:32.97g
11.99%
Sugar:27.56g
30.62%
Cholesterol:0mg
0%
Sodium:14.52mg
0.63%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:0.47g
0.95%
Manganese:0.21mg
10.6%
Potassium:302.02mg
8.63%
Magnesium:18.32mg
4.58%
Vitamin B1:0.06mg
3.68%
Vitamin C:2.85mg
3.46%
Copper:0.07mg
3.37%
Vitamin B6:0.06mg
3.22%
Fiber:0.74g
2.98%
Vitamin B2:0.05mg
2.77%
Calcium:23.63mg
2.36%
Phosphorus:21.58mg
2.16%
Iron:0.37mg
2.08%
Vitamin B5:0.15mg
1.47%
Vitamin B3:0.27mg
1.37%