2medium pieces of organic ginger root,used over multiple days
10Tbsporganic cane sugar,used over multiple days*
2cupsfiltered or dechlorinated water
Instructions
Wash your organic ginger root thoroughly. You don't need to peel. Chop, grate, or pulse a good amount in a food processor—you'll need 2 tablespoons on day 1 and 2 tablespoons each day for the following 4 days. Store the extra prepped ginger in a sealed container in the fridge to make feeding easier.
Day 1: Add 2 tablespoons of chopped or grated ginger and 2 tablespoons of sugar to a clean glass jar. Pour in 2 cups of filtered water. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
Cover the jar loosely with a cloth, coffee filter, or paper towel. (I like to tear the paper towel for better visibility.) If using a mason jar, secure with the metal ring; otherwise, use a rubber band. Your ginger bug needs airflow to encourage wild fermentation. Leave on the counter at room temperature.
For days 2-5, feed daily with 2 Tbsp ginger and 2 Tbsp sugar. Stir well each time to aerate and reduce the risk of mold. Leave on the counter at room temperature.
Fermentation times vary depending on the ginger, sugar, and room temperature. At around 70–75°F (21–24°C), you might notice bubbling in 3–5 days—a good sign your ginger bug is alive and thriving. Your ginger bug is ready to use when stirring reveals active bubbles.
Video
Notes
-*I use cane sugar. Other good options are regular table sugar, turbinado, demara, muscovado, sucanat, panela, rapadura, and jaggery.-The nutrition facts are for the ginger, sugar, and water divided by 5 servings. These nutrition facts do not reflect the final ginger bug, as fermentation will greatly reduce the sugar content, etc.