Ingredients
1 large piece of fresh ginger root (about 2 to 3 inches long)
4 cups (1 liter) filtered water
1 medium lemon, thoroughly washed and sliced into rounds (just like in the photo)
1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
🥣 Directions
Step 1: Prep the Ginger
Wash the ginger root thoroughly. You don’t even need to peel it! Using a sharp knife, slice the ginger into thin coins. Slicing it thinly exposes more surface area, allowing the natural flavor and juices to release into the water.
Step 2: Simmer and Extract
In a small saucepan, bring the 4 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, drop in your ginger slices. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and let it simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes. The longer you simmer it, the more potent and spicy the ginger flavor will be.
Step 3: Cool and Strain
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let it sit on the counter to cool down completely. Once cool, pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass pitcher or individual water bottles to remove the ginger pieces.
Step 4: Add the Citrus and Chill
Squeeze in a little fresh lemon juice, then drop the lemon slices directly into your bottles or pitcher. If you like a tiny bit of sweetness to balance the spicy bite of the ginger, stir in a spoonful of honey or maple syrup now.
Step 5: Store and Serve
Pop the bottles into the refrigerator (exactly like the meal-prep setup in your picture) for at least 1 hour to get it ice-cold. Shake well before drinking and enjoy your refreshing, gut-healthy hydration!