With summer approaching, the thought of cold beverages is front and centre. Unfortunately, most people reach for a soda or some form of alcohol (or worse, combine the two), which has direct negative implications on your digestive system. The good news is that you can clean up some of your beverages, and still enjoy the taste you crave. Let’s start with a homemade ginger ale.

Purpose

In this recipe we will use real ingredients, and eliminate the harmful sugar and phosphoric acid so you can enjoy your ginger ale and have your digestive system thank you.

On those warm days and the fancy hits you. (SnapCraft/Shutterstock)

Equipment Required

• Small pot


• Strainer

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups of filtered or spring water


• 4 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped


• 2 tbsp of vanilla extract (non-alcoholic)


• 3 tsp lemon oil (or use 1-2 freshly squeezed lemons, to taste)


• Stevia, to taste


• Add at end: 1 cup sparkling mineral water

Directions

• Boil ginger in water for 10 minutes.


• Strain out ginger pieces and pour juice into a jar.


• Add vanilla, lemon, and stevia. Taste, and adjust to your liking.


• Cool and store in fridge as a concentrate, preferably overnight for best flavour.


• Add 1/8 to 1/4 of syrup to 8 oz of sparkling mineral water and serve.

Consumption

• On those warm days and the fancy hits you.