Winter Juicing. Hot Ginger Tonic {and more.}
Over this past year, I have become a big fan of juicing. I used to be a pure smoothie person, knowing that using a blender (or my favorite–the vita-mixer) was the best way to keep the fiber and avoid the sugar spike that pure juices can give you. I might have been a bit of a smoothie-snob. But with all of the tropical fruit that we grow, I was striking out on blending some things…and I finally realized that some things are just better juiced!
So I’ve finally found a happy place for both blending and juicing. A middle ground. Compromise. (It’s good when we all can get along…)
My favorite things to juice: Carrots, apples, beets, pomelos (large star fruit that we grow,) and starfruit. Anything that is too fibrous or grainy to taste good in a smoothie. This time of the year there are so many good citrus fruits available that are so good for fighting colds and flus–it’s a great time to be juicing!
Our latest obsession? Juicing GINGER!
This winter, Dave and I have been on a big ginger kick. You might remember back in November, when I wrote about how I was being a big baby because I had my first head cold in years?…and how I tried a ginger tonic from our local coffee shop…and how that led to my love affair with ginger…and then I made that baked gingerbread oatmeal? Well the ginger obsession just didn’t go away. One thing led to another, until a few weeks ago I found myself standing in my kitchen with a Costco supply of Hawaiian ginger, some lemons off our tree, honey, and the juicer.
And it totally worked. Like magic.
Dave and I have been drinking hot ginger tonic, morning noon and night. I keep it in a Mason jar to give it a good shake shake shake before I pour. We just give it a quick heat up in the microwave, but you could also warm it up on the stovetop.
It’s equally amazing on crushed ice, but since it’s (brrrr 58 degrees!) winter here at night, we love the soothing warmth of the warm tonic these days. And if you’ve got any kind of cold or sore throat, you’ll find this the most soothing drink in the world!
Find the printable recipe below!
PS> side note: IF you don’t have a juicer, you can make an easy ginger tea by placing a one-inch piece of ginger root in a pot of hot water with a cinnamon stick for about ten minutes. Sweeten to taste and you’ll love it!
Ginger Tonic: Hot or iced
Ingredients
- Juice from a piece of ginger root about 4-6 inches long should make 1/3 to 1/2 cup of juice
- Juice from a lemon or lime
- 2 quarts filtered water
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup honey to taste
Instructions
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Clean and remove skin (optional) from a 4-6 inch piece of ginger and follow juicer directions to juice it.
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Add to a 2 quart pitcher of filtered water
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Add juice from lemon or lime
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Add honey, and mix well.
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Note: Best to start with less ginger and honey and then add more to taste after it is combined.
Just a reminder, in case you need more convincing….
Health benefits of ginger!? WebMD suggests that ginger is beneficial for all kinds of stomach issues, as an anti-inflammatory, pain-reducer, and more. Ginger has been used for at least 2000 years around the world for both medicinal and cooking.
Also, This article is packed full of the uses and benefits of lemon in your water. I learned a few news things myself! 😉
Let me know what you love to juice, or blend…And always let me know if you try my recipes and love them. (or hashtag #thegrommom if you instagram something you try from my site!)
And once again, thank you to Josiah for being my on-site photographer! 🙂
XO
monica
I grew up in Papua New Guinea and the fresh fruit was in abundant (and inexpensive) supply there, too… one of our absolute favorite juice combos was pineapple ginger!
I’m loving this as I grow my own ginger and lemon.
Tell me, is there any chance of turning this into ginger cough drops rather than freezing it?
Hi CJ! So much fun growing your own ginger and lemon! And that is a great question…I have never tried making cough drops but I’d love to hear if you try it!!
I got to read this when you recently reposted it. I love the Ginger Tonic. It’s delish! And perfect as we head into cold season here in the Pacific Northwest. Yummo!
These look absolutely delicious! great recipe, absolutely delicious and easy to make. Thanks for posting it on here.
I made your ginger tonic today and added some juiced turmeric. Delicious!
Hi Monica,
A friend of mine recently turned me to your site and now I love reading your blog! Have been going through some of your older posts and since I am also on a ginger kick right now I had to comment! I have two kiddos (11 and 13), a wonderful hubby and we love life in Dallas, TX. However, my husband and I dream of living the life that you and your family do right now — living, homeschooling and working in Hawaii! Until that can happen, we just keep trying to get there as often as possible. (we will be on the Big Island next month!) And now I will keep reading your blog!:)
Currently I use grated ginger in a smoothie with 1 cup of pineapple juice, 1 cup spinach, and juice from half a lemon. It is so refreshing! But I can’t wait to try this ginger recipe along with some of the other smoothie recipes you posted in a different blog. That Tropical Green Smoothie?? Oh my that looks good! We love those Hawaiian papayas and grab them any chance we can get here on the mainland!:)
Thanks so much for sharing your life and ideas with us. Please continue — I look forward to reading more!
Aloha!!
Angela
Holy WOW!!! I had tucked this away til I had the time and ingredients to make it–this is incredible!!! I don’t have a juicer so I sort of improvised by putting just a bit of minced ginger, honey and lemon juice in the blender, blended them and then added that combination to the pitcher of water…then heated up a cup in the microwave–amazing! Thanks, Monica! 🙂
YAY!! So glad you tried it Wendy! It is so addicting too! Yes, many people just cut a chunk of ginger and throw it in the blender…I’m sure that is just as good! Hope it helps get you through a few cold winter days/nights. 🙂 XO
I LOVE ginger too!!! So glad I met you today:) I’m making your ginger tonic tea right now. Exactly what my body needs, thank you so much for sharing. One of my favorite ginger drinks is juicing a whole pineapple & a ginger & pouring it over ice…love the zing ginger adds to everything!
Hey Jules! 🙂 So glad I met you as well, and how fun that you’re a fellow-ginger-lover! Now I want to try your pineapple ginger drink! Yum. Hope to see you again soon. XO
Delish and soothing.
I don’t own a juicer and used a garlic press to express the juice from the root after peeling it.
good idea. I grate the ginger and squeeze it through a piece of think cloth. I use the ginger juice for one thing and dry the grated ginger for tea.
good idea. I grate the ginger and squeeze it through a piece of thin cloth. I use the ginger juice for one thing and dry the grated ginger for tea.
I’m so happy you posted the recipe for the ginger tonic! When you did your november write up about it I was hoping to find a recipe for it. I did make your baked ginger oatmeal and the family loves it! (My dad called it lumber jack cake.) anyway thanks for the tonic recipe I’m super excited bc I love ginger!
I’ll have to try that tonic!
Hi Monica! So happy to have found your blog. This ginger tonic sounds amazing! I love ginger. While I don’t have a juicer I do blend smoothies daily. Right now I’m enjoying my favorite green smoothie. Spinach, apples, cucumbers, frozen strawberries, water, half a lemon’s worth of juice and a tiny bit of stevia. So yummy! I’ll have to look into a juicer. Happy New Year and much aloha.
Kim
Thank you Kim! Yum, I want one of what you’re having! 🙂 (breakfast time here now!) Of course you can put a small piece of ginger in the blender as well, (you might already do that,) but yes, juicing is fun in its own way! Aloha and thanks for commenting!
Hi Monica,
I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I added some fresh ginger into my smoothie this morning and WOW! What an amazing flavor. I love it, this will become my new norm. Thanks so much for the suggestion. Have a great weekend!
I had a juicer and just couldn’t do all the cleaning and stuff that came with it (plus the extra cost) but I DID love juicing ginger! It added so much flavor and heat to the juices, and I still crave it!
This sounds heavenly! Thank you for sharing.
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com
I love all of your post…. It seems we have switched lives I have four boys and am from Hawaii and now we live in Washington. Crazy!!! Anyway reading your post helps a little with the homesickness. Just knowing a beautiful family is enjoying beautiful Hawaii Nei.in glad I found your blog. On a side note what kind of juicer do you use? Enjoy all that beautiful sun and aina 🙂 Aloha, Piilani
So glad to hear from you Piilani! 🙂 What area of Washington do you live in?
We just use the Jack La’Laine juicer from Costco! 😉 It works well so far! Keep in touch, it’s fun to hear from you. Sending Aloha-