Lemon Ginger Sirup: Back to the Basics

Sweet and Sour and a hint of spicyness

"If live gives you lemons, make lemonade". Not today. We will make a little something more special today. Its fresh, sweet and tickles your palatal.

I knew this combination from the colder months. If I have a cold or feel slightly down, theres always some appreciation when it comes to lemon and ginger. I guess you are already familiar with the "hot Lemon" or how its called in Germany "heise Zitrone". It boosts you energy levels and makes you warm from the inside.

But we don't really want to need those warming properties in summer, right?  Therefore sirup is a pretty good alternative. It lasts longer and will develop a better taste over time. Plus, there is always someones birthday and someone who will be very happy about some delicious sirup.

But enough said, let the picture gallery roll......

Instructions for the Sirup

You will need:

• 1,25kg sugar
• 20g ginger, peeled and sliced into small pieces
• 350-400ml fresh lemon juice
• 450-500ml water

How to prepare it:

• Pour the water, ginger and sugar into a pot and heat it up until it slowly boils, stir the mixture around from time to time
• set the stove to a low heat and let it boil for 15min.
• add the lemon juice and let it simmer for 15min., until it thickens a bit
• fill the mixture trough a strainer or try to fish the ginger pieces out
• pour the got mixture into heat resistant bottles, you should wash them out with hot water to minimize the amount of bacterias inside
• close the lid tightly

Aging is key

The sirups taste improves over time. It will taste a bit more intense after some weeks. The sirup is good as long as it doesn't smell alcoholic. Try it cold as well as in hot water, very good in the winter, for some hot lemon style drinks.

Onto how to make the actually Lemonade:

You will need: 

• the sirup
• soda water
• lemons
• mint leaves
• ice cubes
• nice glasses with straws

Assemble it:

Just put some sirup into the glass, fill it up with bubble water. After that, add the lemon and squeeze a little bit juice into the drink, as well as adding some lemon pieces (use organic ones, because of the skin, which might be flocked). Stir the mixture around, especially the ground, otherwise you might get a really tasteless drink with an awful sweet surprise at the end. Now there are just some ice cubes missing and a nice straw and you're done. Enjoy your summer drink. 

Lets wish for some nice weather but I will enjoy this drink anyway.

I wish you try it, too. Its a very nice gift. Assemble it together with a nice glass, some tea and an illustrated instruction on how to prepare it.

Until next time, have a nice summer and cheers, (insert "cling" noise here)

See you