Honey Ginger Lemonade (With 8 Variations)

Fresh ginger adds a unique kick to the warm weather classic in this easy homemade honey ginger lemonade.

There’s nothing quite as thirst quenching as an icy cold glass of lemonade on a hot day; that sweet and sour combination hits the spot every time.  Lively, tart and super-refreshing, it’s a warm weather favorite for good reason.

And while a glass of good old fashioned lemonade is pretty perfect on its own, I like to add a bit of a kick to the classic every once in a while and make a honey ginger lemonade.

It starts off very simply with lemon juice and a syrup made from water and honey; into that goes the “zing”, a few ounces of fresh and fiery ginger. Once the ginger syrup is made, it’s easy to mix up a pitcher whenever the mood strikes.

The ginger adds a spicy note, a pleasant heat at the back of your throat that makes the honey and lemon sing.  It’s tangy and sweet with a nice depth of flavor thanks to the honey.

The best part are all the variations you can play around with once you’ve got the basics in place.

Variations:

• Add a little vodka or gin, and this sweet and spicy lemonade transforms into a cocktail.
• Prefer your lemonade with a bit of fizz?  Use sparkling water instead.
• Add apple cider vinegar and transform your lemonade into a glass of switchel.
• Or swap out some of the water for coconut water for extra electrolytes and you have a tastier alternative to store-bought sports drinks.
• Want extra probiotics?  Add a shot of coconut water kefir as well.
• In the mood for something even more refreshing?  Make popsicles or churn in an ice cream maker for an extra refreshing treat.
• Have a scratchy throat or feeling a cold coming on?  Use Manuka honey instead.
• Looking for something a little fruitier?  Add a cup of pineapple juice.

Perfect for parties and picnics or on a hot summer day, this is one lemonade you'll find yourself stirring up time after time.

(This post originally appeared on April 22, 2011 and has been updated along with both the photos and recipe.)

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Honey Ginger Lemonade Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Fresh ginger adds a unique kick to the warm weather classic in this easy homemade honey ginger lemonade.

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Ingredients

For the honey ginger syrup:

• ¼ cup/84g raw honey
• ½ cup/120ml water (filtered or spring)
• 3oz/90g fresh ginger root, peeled and finely grated on a microplane zester

For the lemonade:

• 1 cup/240ml fresh squeezed lemon juice,
• 4 cups/950ml cold filtered or spring water
• 1 recipe for honey ginger syrup
• Ice for serving
• Sliced lemons for garnish

Variations:

• Replace 1 cup water with vodka or gin
• or
• Replace ½ the water with sparkling water
• or
• Replace 1 cup water with coconut water
• or
• Add ¼ cup/60ml apple cider vinegar
• or
• Add ½ cup/120ml coconut water kefir
• or
• Add 1 cup/240ml fresh pineapple juice

Instructions

To make the honey ginger simple syrup:

1. Place the honey and water in a medium saucepan, bring to a simmer stirring until honey is completely dissolved. Turn off heat, add the freshly grated ginger. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes.
2. Strain syrup thorough a fine mesh sieve, pressing hard on the ginger pulp discarding the solids. Pour into a bottle or jar, and chill until cold, about 1 hour. The syrup will keep in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.

To make the lemonade:

1. Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice and the honey ginger syrup to a large pitcher. Add cold water (more or less depending on how strong you like your lemonade). If you are using sparkling water don’t add it until you are ready to serve so that it doesn’t lose its fizz. Add the vodka, gin, apple cider vinegar, coconut water, coconut water kefir or pineapple juice now as well if using. Refrigerate until ready to serve (or pour into popsicle mold or churn in ice cream maker.)
2. Pour lemonade over ice filled glasses, top with a slice of lemon.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 161Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 139mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 1gSugar: 25gProtein: 2g

Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.

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Sylvie

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.