Ginger Honey Lemonade
This recipe delivers a vibrant and refreshing ginger honey lemonade. Fresh lemon juice is combined with an aromatic ginger-honey infusion, diluted with water, and served chilled over ice for a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and spicy notes. It's an invigorating beverage suitable for any time of day.
Equipment
- 1 Citrus Juicer Manual or electric, to extract lemon juice efficiently.
- 1 Small Saucepan For gently warming water with ginger and honey.
- 1 Fine-Mesh Strainer Essential for removing ginger solids for a smooth drink.
- 1 Grater or Sharp Knife For preparing the fresh ginger.
- 1 Large Pitcher or Carafe For mixing, chilling, and serving the lemonade.
Ingredients
Main
- 1. 4 cups of water divided
- 2. 4-6 large lemons to yield 1 cup of lemon juice
- 3. 1 4- inch piece fresh ginger
- 4. 1/4 cup raw honey
- 5. 2 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Peel the 4-inch piece of fresh ginger and either finely grate it or slice it into thin rounds.
- Juice the lemons until you have 1 cup of fresh lemon juice, ensuring to remove any seeds or pulp.
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of the divided water, the prepared ginger, and the raw honey. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until the honey is fully dissolved.
- Once dissolved, bring to a gentle simmer for 5-7 minutes to allow the ginger to infuse. Remove from heat and let steep for an additional 10 minutes.
- Pour the ginger-honey mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher, pressing down on the ginger solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids.
- Add the remaining 3 cups of water and the fresh lemon juice to the pitcher with the strained ginger-honey liquid.
- Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients, ensuring an even distribution of flavors.
- Taste the lemonade and adjust sweetness by adding more honey, or tartness by adding a splash more lemon juice, if desired.
- Chill the lemonade in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or until thoroughly cold.
- Serve the ginger honey lemonade over ice cubes, optionally garnishing with lemon slices or a sprig of fresh mint.
Notes
For optimal flavor extraction, gently simmer the grated ginger with about 1 cup of the water and the honey for 5-7 minutes. This creates a concentrated ginger-honey syrup. Let it steep off the heat for another 10 minutes before straining. This method ensures thorough flavor infusion and proper honey dissolution. Always taste and adjust the honey and lemon juice to achieve a perfect balance of sweet and tart, as lemons can vary in acidity. For a refined presentation, garnish with thin lemon slices and a sprig of fresh mint or a few candied ginger pieces.