Ginger Beer African Food

LIBERIAN PINEAPPLE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Wash the ginger root. Cut it into 1/2 " pieces.
• Move half of cut ginger into the blender. Add 1 cup of water. Cover and set blender to high. Blend until ginger coarsely chopped and mixed well into the water. Transfer this mixture to a large pot(8 quart).
• Repeat with the rest of the ginger. Add this mixture to the pot.
• Wash the pineapple. Use a sharp knife to remove the peeling. Slice the peeling off so that you also remove a half-inch of pineapple along with the skin.
• Cut the peeling into one-inch pieces. Transfer half of the cut pineapple peeling to the blender. Add 1 cup of water and blend on high until pineapple is in small pieces and mixed in the water. Move to the pot of ginger.
• Repeat with the rest of the cut pineapple. Add to the mixture in the pot.
• Add 10 more cups of water to the pot. Half-cover the pot with the top. Bring to a boil on high and boil on medium for about 30 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the stove. Cover the pot completely and allow the mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.
• Pour the mixture through a metal strainer to remove the larger pieces of ginger and pineapple peel. Use a wooden spoon to press the liquid through the strainer.
• Use a clean cotton kitchen cloth(or clean wash cloth) to strain out the finer particles. Use your hand to squeeze the ginger beer out of the cloth.
• To sweeten, first add 1 cup of sugar and stir. Add more sugar to desired taste. Chill and enjoy.
• Store in the fridge.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Put the ginger in a saucepan set over a low heat with the lemon peel, sugars and 500ml water and stir until the sugars have dissolved. Increase the heat to medium, then simmer for 15-20 mins, or until reduced and syrupy. Remove from the heat and leave to cool completely.
• Strain the syrup into a jug through a sieve lined with muslin. At this stage, you can transfer the syrup to a small sterilised bottle or jar and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
• Pour the ginger syrup into a large serving jug. Tip in the lemon juice, fill with ice and top up with the soda water. Serve garnished with a few mint sprigs.

JAMAICAN GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Remove 1/2 cup of the boiling water and set aside to cool to lukewarm.
• Combine remaining boiling water, 2 cups sugar, ginger, honey, and lime juice in a large plastic container.
• Mix the 1/2 cup lukewarm water, 1 cup sugar, and yeast together in a separate bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy paste, about 5 minutes; stir into ginger mixture. Cover container and let sit for 3 days. Skim foam from top, strain liquid, and pour ginger beer into clean storage containers; chill.