Not that kind of a bug, but a ginger bug. It’s sort of like a sourdough starter but for sodas. The natural yeast and bacteria present on the surface of ginger will begin to ferment the sugar you add, allowing you to make fizzy and delicious probiotic sodas. The whole process takes about a week.
GINGER BUG:
Day 1: Combine 2 c water, 1/2 c of diced organic ginger, 1 tbsp sugar in a thoroughly cleaned container.
Be sure to use distilled or filtered water. Also be sure to use organic ginger, as non-organic ginger may be irradiated. You don’t need to peel your ginger.
You can seal the jar tightly with a lid, or use cheesecloth and a rubber band.
Day 2-6: Each day, add 1 small diced piece of ginger & 1 tsp sugar
The temp of your kitchen will affect the speed at which your ginger bug ferments. If you have a colder kitchen, keep feeding the ginger bug for up to 10 days before using. Keep your bug out of direct sunlight. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s frothy on top and produces bubbles without touching it.
SODA:
We’d recommend using 8 fl oz (236 mL) pressure safe swing top bottles.
When you’re ready to bottle, sanitize your bottles in a large pot of boiling water for 5 min.
Next, strain your ginger bug with a fine mesh colander.
In the 8 fl oz bottle, combine .5 to 1.5 fl oz of ginger bug liquid, 4-5 fl oz of shelf-stable sweetened fruit juice, and fill the rest of the bottle with filtered water, leaving 1″ of headroom.
Let sit at room temp for 2-3 days, then refrigerate before serving. If you see a bubbly ring forming at the top of your liquid, you know it’s working.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN OPENING: keep a hand over the lid and point the bottle away from your face.
Use preservative-free juices that aren’t sold refrigerated. Make sure your juices have sugar content, otherwise the fermentation won’t work.
These sodas will have an alcohol content similar to kombucha, so they’re not suitable for children, or people who can’t drink.
Keep your bug in the fridge and feed once a week, or keep it at room temperature and feed daily.
If you see or smell anything strange, THROW IT OUT. #gingerbug #probiotics #soda #diy