I always keep some fresh ginger on hand in case I have an upset stomach (it can be a lifesaver in early pregnancy!). Ginger root adds delicious flavor to drinks, gingerbread, and even iced tea. Although it may be a little spicy on its own, ginger syrup is a flavorful way to add a little sweetness to drinks and dishes.
This warming herb has many health benefits and increases blood circulation and immunity. Perfect for the cooler months (and delicious!).
ginger simple syrup
Traditional recipes for ginger syrup use fresh ginger root and sweeteners such as brown sugar or organic cane sugar. Similar to elderberry syrup, spicy ginger is boiled in a liquid, strained and bottled. You can get the flavor of ginger without using refined sugar.
This version of ginger syrup is made by boiling ginger in water and mixing the strained infusion with raw honey. In addition to the health benefits of ginger, raw honey also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
ginger benefits
Even if you don’t have fresh ginger in your fridge, you probably have dried ginger in your pantry. I found it very helpful with early pregnancy nausea and my kids love it for their tummy upsets. Here are some more health benefits of ginger.
It helps relieve muscle aches and pains, including menstrual cramps. Rub the ginger-infused oil onto sore muscles or add the dry or raw oil to a hot bath. Reduces nausea, indigestion, and vomiting. Drink it as a tea or use ginger tincture. Calms coughs and soothes sore throats. Stimulates circulation. This will help you recover faster from colds and flu, relieve muscle pain, and warm your body on cold days. It is an antioxidant that helps fight cancer-causing free radicals. Some research suggests that ginger can help maintain a healthy blood sugar balance. A 2019 meta-analysis found that ginger significantly reduces body weight, improves fasting blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, and improves cholesterol balance.
Drinking ginger tea is a great way to end the evening, but ginger syrup is even more versatile.
How to use ginger syrup
Simple ginger syrup is most often used in cocktail recipes, such as the classic Moscow Mule and the more recent Penicillin. It may be a staple for bartenders, but you can also make lots of healthy mocktails with it.
I use ginger bugs to make homemade ginger ale (also known as ginger beer). Although the process is very simple, fermentation requires some hands-on time. You can even more easily create your own variation of ginger ale by simply pouring homemade ginger syrup into sparkling water or club soda. Other uses for ginger syrup include:
Pour a small amount into hot tea and squeeze a fresh lemon to soothe a sore throat. If you experience nausea or muscle pain, take a spoonful as needed. Add some to your homemade cranberry sauce. Add fresh cream or coconut milk to your coffee to create a healthy latte. Mix lime juice and carbonated water to make healthy soda water. Use it to sweeten smoothies, like this creamy pumpkin smoothie. Make a vinaigrette with ginger syrup and apple cider vinegar for salads.
Flavored ginger simple syrup
My homemade cough syrup is a herbal infusion of ginger and other herbs combined with lemon juice and honey. This recipe is similar but leaves out the other herbs. There are many ways to personalize it with different flavors.
Add a little vanilla to make a ginger-vanilla syrup that’s perfect for ice cream. Alternatively, boil lemon and lime zest with ginger for a citrusy flavor. You can also add other warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, which have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Rosemary, orange zest, and lemongrass also work well in ginger syrup recipes.
How to make ginger syrup
If you can make tea, you can also make ginger syrup. Start by coarsely chopping your organic ginger root. If the pieces are too big, they won’t infuse well, but if they’re too small, they’ll be difficult to strain. After infusing the ginger into the water, strain out the solids and stir in the raw honey. The syrup is now ready to use.
ginger syrup recipe
This easy and simple syrup is delicious mixed into drinks or mixed into tea. Get all the health benefits of ginger in an easy-to-use syrup.
1/3 cup fresh ginger root (coarsely chopped) 4 cups water 1 cup raw honey
Add ginger and water to a small pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer until boiling, 30-45 minutes. You want to reduce the liquid to 1 cup, so partially cover the pot with a lid to allow some of the steam to escape.
Strain the ginger pieces and pour the ginger infusion into a heat-resistant glass bottle. Mason jars work well for this. If you have more than 1 cup, boil it down further. If it is less than 1 cup, add water to make 1 cup.
Add raw honey and stir.
Store ginger syrup in the refrigerator. The storage period is approximately 2 weeks, but it can be stored for a long time if frozen.
Nutritional information table
ginger syrup recipe
Amount per serving (1 tablespoon)
calories 33
% daily value*
Fat 0.01g0%
Saturated fat 0.002g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.002g
Monounsaturated fat 0.002g
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 10mg0%
Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary fiber 0.04g0%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 0.1g0%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 1mg0%
Iron 0.1mg1%
*Percent daily intake is based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Add other herbs as needed when cooking the ginger. See the article above for suggestions. This syrup is very thin. If you want a thicker syrup, you can boil the honey with the ginger, but then it won’t be raw.
How to store ginger syrup
This can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Honey has a long shelf life (even found in Egyptian tombs!), but herbal teas don’t. If you want to save it for later, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and use it as needed.
Have you ever made a simple syrup? How do you use ginger syrup? Let us know by leaving a comment.
