The Healthiest Kid-friendly Homemade Soda

Sometimes kids and parents just need a sweet sparkling beverage to help cool them down on a sunny afternoon, why not make a beverage that meets all of the above and has the added benefit of being extremely healthy for your body. An easy way to accomplish that is to make ginger bug soda for the family.

Ginger bug is a homemade probiotic culture that is made from sugar and fresh ginger. Probiotics are known to have many health benefits. This is an easy way to get more fermented foods in your diet. It only takes around 5 days to make and is reliably easy for newbie fermenters. You can check out my easy recipe for ginger bug here.

GINGER BUG SODA FLAVOURS

Traditionally ginger bug is used to make spicy ginger beer. However it can also be turned into all sorts of different flavoured soda pops.

Here are a few different ways to add flavour to ginger bug soda:

• Fresh Fruits: This favorite because this is the most natural favor to use. I love using Strawberry, blueberry, Kiwi, and etc.
• Juice: I recommend using clear juices, like graph, apple or pomegranate. Avoid juices that have added preservatives, as they will slow down or stop the fermentation.
• Teas: Unlike jun or kombucha, you can use any flavour of tea for your ginger bug sodas. Herbal, black or green teas will all add a unique flavour.
• Other additions: You can also flavour the ginger soda with spices, dried fruits, vanilla bean or citrus zest

HINT:

When experimenting with flavouring ginger bug sodas, don’t forget that the hint of ginger will always be there.

GINGER BUG SODA POP

Ginger bug sodas are the easiest homemade probiotic soda pop. Ginger bug can be flavoured in all sorts of different ways. Experiment to find your own favourite combination.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 2 liters
• Category: Beverages
• Method: Fermented
• Cuisine: Traditional
• Diet: Gluten Free

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 liters water
• 1 liter of water with fresh fruits, fruit juice, or brewed tea
• 1/2 cup chopped ginger
• 1 cups sugar (see notes for more details) use 1/2 cup for fruit juice options
• 1/2 cup ginger bug starter

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. For fresh Fruits:
   1. Blend the water with the fruits, ginger, and sugar. Blend until all the sugar is dissolved mixture is a liquid.
   2. Use a cheesecloth or strainer and remove any excess fruit and ginger pulp.
2. For Juice and tea option:
   1. Blend the Juice or Tea, ginger, and sugar. Blend until all the sugar is dissolved mixture is a liquid.
   2. Use a cheesecloth or strainer and remove any excess ginger pulp.
3. Once you finish staining off the pulp put liquid into a pot and bring liquid to a boil. (Note: you can strain before or after you bring the liquid to a boil and cool)
4. Turn off and let the liquid cool to room temperature.
5. Pour liquid into a 78oz airtight glass canister. If needed this can be purchased from Amazon see here.
6. Add 1/2 cup ginger bug starter into the canister. Note: Import that liquid is not hot if so this is may kill the live probiotic cultures.
7. Close lid of the canister and place somewhere warm and allow to ferment for 2-7 days. (Each day stir and taste for desired sweetness).
8. Once the mixture has begins to bubble, stir and taste for desired sweetness each day.
9. Once it’s fizzy and at desired sweetness, refrigerate and enjoy!

NOTES

• The ginger bug feeds on sucrose, so you need to use sugar or coconut palm sugar in this recipe. Over time more and more of the sugar will be consumed by the ginger bug, so if it seems to sweet, then let it ferment a little bit longer. It is possible to reduce the amount of sugar, however, the soda will not be as carbonated.
• You can use straight juice as the liquid for a very sweet ginger bug soda. Since juice is high in fructose, the sweetness won’t be consumed by the ginger bug. Otherwise, I recommend a mix of 1/3 juice and either water or brewed tea.
• Finished ginger bug sodas will continue to build up carbonation.