How to Make a Ginger Bug
Learn how to make a ginger bug in a few easy steps. A ginger bug is a starter culture made with sugar, water, and fresh ginger root that can be used to make wild fermented sodas!
Equipment
- 32-ounce mason jar
- Swing-top bottles to make soda
Ingredients
- 2 cups unchlorinated water
- 7 tbsp organic ginger
- 3 tbsp organic sugar
Instructions
- To prepare your ginger for the bug, scrub it well under cool water to remove any dirt.
- Chop the ginger root into small pieces about ⅛ - ¼ inch in width. There’s no need to peel the ginger, just be sure any dirt has been scrubbed off.
- On the first day, fill your jar with 2 cups of filtered water. Add one tablespoon of sugar and secure the lid on the jar. Shake the jar very well, until the sugar has dissolved. Add 2 tablespoons of ginger (or about an inch of ginger root) to the jar and reattach the lid. Place your jar in a warm spot out of direct sunlight.
- The next day, feed your bug another teaspoon of sugar and about a tablespoon of diced ginger. Secure the lid, shake well, and return it to the counter until the next day. Continue feeding the bug for the next 3-5 days.
- Around day 3-5, you will start to notice bubbles forming in the liquid. This means that the fermenting is working! Once your mixture is quite bubbly and has a yeasty smell to it, the bug is ready to use.
Notes
- Check out the post above for instructions on how to use your ginger bug to make wild-fermented soda.
- Store your ginger bug in the refrigerator and feed it once a week. If kept at room temperature, feed it daily.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!