Guyanese ginger beer is a refreshing beverage that includes ginger, warm spices, citrus, and sugar. Learn how to make ginger beer with this easy recipe so you can enjoy this Caribbean drink during the holiday season or any time of the year!
Guyanese Homemade Ginger Beer
It’s not Christmas in Guyana without Sorrel Drink or ginger beer! Once you get a sip of this homemade version, you’ll never want storebought again. It has a robust flavor profile that tingles the taste buds with a harmonious blend of spicy, sweet, and slightly tangy notes. There’s a comforting warmth and depth that you can’t get with any other drink.
I hate ginger beer because of the spiciness but my husband absolutely loves it! Give me Mauby or Sorrell any day over ginger beer. Since my husband enjoys it I make a batch whenever he requests it.
- Guyanese Homemade Ginger Beer
- Why You’ll Love This Guyanese Ginger Beer Recipe
- What is ginger beer?
- Ginger Beer vs. Ginger Ale
- Ingredients for Guyanese Ginger Beer
- How to Make Guyanese Ginger Beer
- Recipe Substitutions & Variations
- Storage
- Tips for the Best Ginger Beer
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Guyanese Ginger Beer
But let’s talk about what this drink is NOT. It is not bubbly like a carbonated drink or alcoholic. Although it has “beer” in its name, this festive drink is nonalcoholic so the whole family can enjoy it!
Looking for another fermented drink recipe? Then check out this Mauby recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Guyanese Ginger Beer Recipe
- Easy to Make: This recipe is as simple as measuring out ingredients and adding them to a sealed jar or container. No boiling or special tools are required! The hardest part is waiting a couple of days for the flavors to develop.
- Versatile: This drink is a holiday staple but it also works for a hot summer day with a pitcher full of ice. Make the spicy ginger flavor stronger, or add more sugar to sweeten it; there are so many ways to customize it.
- Great Taste: If you love the zingy flavor of ginger, then you’ll love this. It’s distinctly fresh, aromatic, and sweet but not too sweet.
- Family Friendly: If you’re enjoying this during the holidays, it’s a great mocktail for designated drivers, those abstaining from alcohol, and kids.
What is ginger beer?
Caribbean ginger beer is a non-alcoholic drink infused with ginger, water, spices, and citrus fruit. Some recipes add yeast or sparkling water to carbonate it. Other recipes may include rum or gin for an alcoholic version.
It originated in England during the 18th century.
Ginger Beer vs. Ginger Ale
Although both drinks include ginger as the main ingredient, they are not interchangeable. The most notable difference is the flavor. Ginger beer uses more ginger so it has a stronger flavor than ginger ale, which is notably sweeter.
Ingredients for Guyanese Ginger Beer
This Caribbean drink is made with just a few simple ingredients.
- Ginger root: Fresh ginger is pungent, spicy, and slightly sweet.
- Room temperature water: This is the liquid base for the drink.
- Spices: Use cinnamon sticks and whole cloves for a warm flavor to complement the ginger.
- Dried orange peel: This infuses the water with citrus flavor to balance the spiciness of the fresh ginger.
- Demerara sugar: Demerara sugar is a type of brown sugar that is minimally refined and has larger grains compared to regular brown sugar. It has a slightly sticky texture due to its higher molasses content compared to white sugar. The molasses gives it a distinctive flavor with hints of toffee or caramel.
- White rice: This is an optional ingredient that speeds up the fermentation process. It does not affect the taste.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Guyanese Ginger Beer
Get your ginger ready—peel it (use a spoon to scrape away the skin) and give it a good grate or blend. Toss it into a nice, big sterilized glass bottle or a trusty mason jar. Then add in water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel, ¼ cup of sugar, and toss in some rice if you’re feeling it.
Give it a good stir, to ensure everything’s mingling.
Alternatively, throw the water and peeled ginger into a blender until it’s nice and smooth, then mix in the rest of the ingredients.
Now, cover it up and let the magic happen for a minimum of three days. Back in Guyana, we’d set it out in the sun every day to let it “brew”. But here in Colorado, I just leave it on the kitchen counter.
Once time’s up, strain it into a clean mug, and sweeten it with the rest of the sugar or however much suits your taste buds. Finally, enjoy, if you like this sort of thing!
Oh, and here’s the secret: the longer you let it sit, the bolder the flavor gets.
And me? I’m all about those finishing touches. So when I’m sipping on my homemade ginger beer, you bet I’m throwing in some dried orange slices or a piece of sugar cane. Cheers to tasty creations!
Recipe Substitutions & Variations
- Skin: Some Guyanese ginger beer recipes keep the skin on. But I prefer to peel the ginger because the skin has a bitter taste.
- Sweeteners: You may use Sugar in the Raw (turbinado sugar) or brown sugar as substitutes for demerara sugar. Or experiment with alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. Just keep in mind that these can also impart their own distinct flavors.
- Juice: Add pineapple juice or lime juice after the drink sets for added sweetness.
- Carbonated: After straining the mixture, mix it with seltzer water for a fizzy drink.
Storage
Store the strained drink in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 1 month. Once it’s refrigerated, the fermenting process stops.
Tips for the Best Ginger Beer
- Choose fresh ginger. If the ginger has a bluish tint it is not fresh.
- Mix everything well before letting it set.
- The longer you let the beer sit, the stronger the flavor becomes. So if you prefer a potent ginger beer, let it set for 4-5 days to intensify the taste.
- Ensure all equipment, especially the bottles or jars, is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. This prevents any unwanted bacteria from affecting the fermentation process.
- Save the strained pulp to make ginger tea or add it to a smoothie.
- Enjoy this beverage with a slice of Black Cake.
Frequently Asked Questions
It has little to no alcohol content (less than 1%) depending on how long its steeped.
This beverage is gluten free.
This homemade version contains less sugar than store-bought varieties and no additives. Ginger is known for its health benefits and has anti-inflammatory and digestive properties.
The Jamaican versions of the drink are very similar to the Guyanese style but some include rum or chewing sticks
The Moscow mule cocktail includes ginger beer.
Guyanese Ginger Beer
Equipment
- Large sterilized glass bottle or mason jar
- Box grater or blender
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ginger Root
- 12 cups water room temperature
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 6 inches dried orange peel divided into two
- 1 cup Demerara sugar may use sugar in the raw or brown sugar
- ¼ cup white rice optional
Instructions
- Peel and grate ginger, then add to a large sterilized glass bottle or mason jar. Then add the water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel, ¼ cup of sugar and rice if using. Stir to combine. Alternatively you may add the water and peeled ginger to a blender and puree until smooth, then add the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and let the mixture sit for at least three days. After three days strain into a clean mug and sweeten with the remaining sugar or sugar to taste and serve. The longer you let it sit the stronger it will be.
- I love to garnish my ginger beer with some dried orange slices or a stick of cinnamon.
Notes
Nutrition
The information listed in the recipe card is an estimate provided by an online nutrition tool. The tool evaluates ingredient names and amounts then makes calculations based on the number of servings listed for the recipe. It is provided as a general guideline and not as a precise calculation. For precise nutrition information please feel free to add the ingredients to your preferred nutrition calculator or consult a doctor or licensed nutritionist.
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