After making this drink purely off vibes for over a year, I’ve finally perfected the ratios to write this ginger lemonade recipe! The drink is refreshing, sweet, tangy, and a little spicy (from the ginger). I make it all year round – it’s great for cooling off in the summer and wonderful for using up fresh citrus in the winter.
I’ve served this ginger lemonade during an Asian inspired at-home cafe, during hungover brunches with friends, and at my brother’s ramen pop-up – just to name a few. It’s always been a hit, and I’m excited to share!
Ginger Lemonade Ingredients
- Fresh ginger
- Sugar
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- Water
I’ve played around with this recipe – using honey, brown sugar, and different ratios. This is my favorite version! The grapefruit juice can be replaced by additional lemon juice if needed, but the zing of grapefruit is also my secret ingredient :).
(If you live in TX, H-E-B always has the best grapefruits in my opinion! In the winter, they are super sweet and delicious. In the summer, I will sometimes add extra sugar in my syrup to compensate for a sour grapefruit.)
Where to Serve & Hosting Tips
Where to Serve: This ginger lemonade is versatile & perfect for all occasions! I like serving with other Asian drinks and food. It was a great non-caffeine option to pair with the other drinks (Green Thai Tea and Vietnamese Coffee) during an at-home cafe, and I’ve even made a quadruple batch for my brother’s ramen pop-up shop. Even with so much, we ran out and it was a huge hit!
Outside of pairing with Asian food/drinks, you can serve this anywhere you’d normally have traditional lemonade. I’ve also paired this ginger lemonade with brunch and pizza night, and everyone always loves. Get creative, have fun, and enjoy!
Hosting Tips: When hosting, this ginger lemonade does best when made the day/night before. Chill overnight, especially if you’re not planning on serving with tons of ice. Chilling overnight also allows the ginger flavor to infuse and become a little stronger and more delicious.
If you’re serving the day of, reduce the water and add ice. The ice will melt and dilute the drink, so adjust to taste and just be wary of over-diluting.
Ginger Grapefruit Lemonade | Refreshing for All Year Round
Ingredients
- 0.5 cup ginger, cubed optional: peeled
- 1 cup sugar
- 1.5 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice optional: strained / about 8 L lemons
- 0.5 – 0.75 cups grapefruit juice optional: strained / about 1 L grapefruit
- 5-6 cups water
Instructions
- Peel and cube your fresh ginger until you have about 1/2 cup. If you choose not to peel, make sure to wash extra well before cubing.
- Add all the cubed ginger, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of water to a small saucepan. Simmer (very little bubbles) and stir occasionally anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat. (*see note 1)
- While the ginger syrup simmers and cools, squeeze your lemons and grapefruit. If you are using an electric juicer, make sure to strain to remove some pulp. (I skip this step when squeezing by hand). You should have approximately 1.5 cups of lemon juice and 0.5 to 0.75 cups of grapefruit juice.
- (Optional) Strain the ginger cubes from your syrup. I usually skip this step for a stronger ginger flavor. (**see note 2)
- Combine your juices, cooled syrup, and 4 cups of water in a pitcher. Taste & add additional water or sugar as needed. Chill and serve over ice.
Notes
If you liked this, check out my other refreshing drink recipes, some with an Asian twist:
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