Ginger Shot Recipe

ginger shots

The Spruce Eats / Laurel Randolph

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
123 Calories
1g Fat
31g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 123
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 9mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 88mg 442%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 536mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you need a little pick-me-up, try a fresh ginger shot. The simple combination of ginger, lemon, and honey is sure to put some pep in your step. This quick and easy recipe doesn't require a juicer—simply whirl everything up in a blender and strain. It's far cheaper than buying it at the store, and you can customize the flavor to your liking. Increase the lemon juice if you like and adjust the honey to your taste or omit it altogether. Add a pinch or two of cayenne, fresh turmeric, and more.

Ginger has long been used as a natural remedy for a long list of ailments and is celebrated for its many potential health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Ginger is also being studied for its effects on weight loss and blood pressure. Lemons are similarly celebrated for their health properties, and may also aid in lowering blood pressure. Whether you enjoy the combination of ginger and lemon for its health benefits or its flavor, you're sure to love this ginger shot.

This recipe makes eight to ten two-ounce shots. It's the perfect amount for a blender and strainer and you'll have the mixture ready for the week. If you have a small blender and want fewer servings you can halve the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh ginger

  • 6 to 7 medium lemons

  • 1/4 cup cold water

  • 1/4 cup honey, or to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Wash and dry the ginger. Coarsely chop.

  3. Juice the lemons, straining off the seeds, and pulp until you have 2/3 cup of lemon juice.

  4. Add the ginger, lemon juice, water, and honey, if using, to a blender.

  5. Blend until a mostly smooth, thick mixture forms, stopping to scrape down the bowl occasionally, about 2 minutes.

  6. Transfer the mixture to a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel set over a medium bowl. Let drain for several minutes.

  7. Gather up the edges of the cloth and twist, squeezing the ginger pulp into a ball inside the cloth. Squeeze well and continue to twist, until no more liquid is dripping out of the cloth and the pulp is very dry. Discard the pulp.

  8. Transfer the liquid into a bottle or bottles using a funnel and chill.

Tip

If you don't have cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel, you can add the pulp directly to the fine-mesh strainer. Press the mixture against the strainer using a wooden spoon to expel all of the juice.

Recipe Variations

  • For an extra kick, add a couple of pinches of cayenne pepper, or to taste.
  • Make it a turmeric ginger shot by swapping half of the ginger for fresh turmeric. Or add one teaspoon of ground turmeric before blending.
  • Swap the water for coconut water.
  • Swap the lemon juice for fresh orange juice. Or, for a fruitier shot, include the lemon juice and swap the water for fresh orange juice.
  • If you're vegan, swap the honey for maple syrup or agave, or leave it out.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Ginger shots are best consumed as fresh as possible.
  • They will keep for up to a week in the fridge in a tightly sealed container. Shake well before consuming.
  • To freeze for longer storage, add the juice to an ice cube tray and freeze. Transfer the cubes to a zip-top freezer bag, and store for up to a month. You can add them, frozen, to smoothies and blended juices.


How to Serve Ginger Shots

A ginger shot can be taken much like an alcohol shot. Swig it back for an invigorating punch of fresh spice. You can also incorporate it into other drinks:

  • Add it to your green smoothie for a spicy, tangy kick.
  • Mix with sparkling water for a dry, invigorating soda.
  • Add to iced tea.
  • Add to a chai or other spiced tea for extra flavor.

What are Ginger Shots good for?

Ginger shots are a delicious wake-up, giving you an all-natural boost. Use them to start your day or as an afternoon sip. They're full of all-natural ingredients with potential health benefits.

Are Ginger Shots good for you?

Ginger shots are low in calories, fat, and (depending on if and how much sweetener is added) low in sugar. They're a nice addition to a balanced diet.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Mao, Qian-Qian et al. “Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe).” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 8,6 185. 30 May. 2019, doi:10.3390/foods8060185

  2. Wang J, Ke W, Bao R, Hu X, Chen F. "Beneficial effects of ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe on obesity and metabolic syndrome: a review." Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1398(1):83-98. doi:10.1111/nyas.13375

  3. Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M. "Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials." Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362

  4. Kato Y, Domoto T, Hiramitsu M, et al. "Effect on blood pressure of daily lemon ingestion and walking." J Nutr Metab. 2014;2014:912684. doi:10.1155/2014/912684