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Elevate the lemonade stand with ginger!
More than just a flavorful root, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a time-honored digestive ally.
Its natural compound, gingerol, supports healthy gut motility—the wave-like movement that helps food travel comfortably through the digestive tract.
For centuries, it’s been trusted to ease bloating, nausea, and everyday tummy troubles in both kids and adults.
Enjoying ginger’s benefits can be as simple as brewing a quick tea—just simmer fresh slices in water, strain, and sip warm.
For a sunny, kid-approved twist, try this Fresh Ginger Lemonade recipe: blend the gentle heat of ginger with the brightness of lemon, a touch of honey (for children over one year old), and a cinnamon stick for a hint of spice.
Serve it hot on chilly days or over ice for a refreshing summer drink.
Feeling festive?
Top it off with sparkling water for an instant lemon-ginger soda. You might just discover your star attraction for the next neighborhood lemonade stand!
Ginger Lemonade Ingredients
2 to 3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger
1 quart water
1 to 2 lemons
Honey or maple syrup
Unflavored sparkling water (optional)
Cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions
- Place the ginger in a saucepan, pour the water over it, cover the pan tightly, and bring just to the boiling point. Then turn off the heat and steep for ten to fifteen minutes. (You could simmer the ginger, but you’ll lose some of the precious essential oils and medicinal properties, so it’s better to let steep.)
- While the ginger steeps, squeeze the juice from the lemons into a bowl. (You could use bottled lemon juice, but because it’s been heated in the bottling process, many of its healing properties are diminished. I use bottled lemon juice occasionally for cooking when I’m in a hurry, but for medicinal purposes, fresh lemons are best.)
- Strain out the ginger, then stir in the lemon juice with optional cinnamon stick. Sweeten with raw, local honey to taste for the finishing touch.
- For a delicious summer fizzle, make a strong batch of Fresh Ginger Lemonade, as directed above, using half the amount of water in the preparation. Chill in the refrigerator, and just before serving, add an equal amount of sparkling water to the concentrated lemonade.
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Well Being Journal adapted the above recipes from Herbs for Children’s Health: How to Make and Use Gentle Herbal Remedies for Common Childhood Ailments by Rosemary Gladstar. Copyright © 2024 by Rosemary Gladstar. Reprinted with permission from Storey Publishing.
