The True Traditional Jamaican Ginger Beer Recipe

A glass of Jamaican traditional ginger beer on a table top

This is the true traditional Jamaican Ginger Beer recipe. Ginger Beer is the established, proper name for the drink, regardless of whether it is fizzy or not. Traditional Jamaican homemade ginger beer is not a soda, and it is not fizzy. The name of a traditional item is not determined by its chemistry (like the presence of CO₂ or alcohol), but by its history and cultural significance within the community.

Ginger Beer and Sorrel Drink were traditionally Jamaican Christmas beverages, along with Rum Punch. However, somewhere along the line, Ginger Beer faded out, leaving Sorrel and Rum Punch as the main two. Growing up, during the Christmas season, my mother would buy a large bag of ginger maybe about 20 lbs. directly from the farmer. We would sit down for hours washing the ginger because of the dirt. Then we would lightly peel it because, according to my mother, the skin has yeast, which helps the ginger beer taste good; therefore, she didn’t want all the skin removed.

Jamaican ginger root in a container

Adding lime juice is optional. Back in the day, ginger beer sellers had lime available in case customers wanted it. I don’t like lime juice in mine.

To get the true authentic taste of Jamaican Ginger Beer, you have to use our local ginger, which we call “pepper” because it is full of flavour, unlike the big imported varieties. The ginger is not steeped in boiling water because we are not making ginger tea. Furthermore, when ginger is boiled or steeped in hot water, it tastes different from when it is blended with room‑temperature water. Cloves and spices are not added to Jamaican Ginger Beer

This is the real Jamaican homemade ginger beer

Preparation Time

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes

  • Straining Time: 15 minutes

  • Chilling Time: 2–4 hours

  • Total Time: About 3–5 hours

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Jamaican local ginger 

  • 4 cups room‑temperature water (plus more if desired)

  • Brown sugar, to taste

  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash the ginger roots thoroughly to remove dirt. Lightly peel the ginger if desired. Jamaican ginger is very dirty, and even after washing, you may still see dark dirt spots that are hard to remove.

  2. Cut the ginger roots into small pieces.

  3. Blend the ginger in batches with room‑temperature water, depending on the size of your blender. I used 4 cups of water.

  4. Strain the blended ginger through a strainer to remove the pulp.

  5. Sweeten the liquid with brown sugar to your taste.

  6. Strain the ginger beer again through a cheesecloth for a smoother drink.

  7. Add lime juice if using.

  8. Refrigerate until chilled.

Serve cold and enjoy. This is the real Jamaican homemade ginger beer.

 Nutritional Information (Approximate, per 1‑cup serving)

  • Calories: 90–120 kcal

  • Carbohydrates: 22–28 g

  • Sugar: 18–24 g

  • Fat: 0 g

  • Protein: 0.5 g

  • Sodium: 5 mg

Nutrition will vary depending on the amount of sugar added.

 




Back to the top

Comments

Post a Comment

Be respectful

Popular posts from this blog

How to Cook Authentic Jamaican Hard Food (Boiled Dumplings, Banana & plantain)

Image
 In Jamaica, no breakfast or dinner is complete without "Hard Food." This classic meal usually consists of a mix of Yellow Yam, Green Banana, and Boiled Dumplings. But, as many of us know, the situation at the market has drastically changed since the passing of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025. Current Market Situation : Ground provisions have become very expensive. Yellow yam is now $500 per pound and white yam is $400 per pound. Even worse, many of these yams are hollow and filled with black spots, making them unappealing to buy. Sweet potatoes are also priced at $300 per pound, but most are rotten and full of worms. Because of this, I’ve turned to green bananas and plantains as my go-to substitute for yam in this recipe. Safety Considerations : It’s also essential to think about safety. Since the produce was likely covered in floodwater, I’m taking extra precautions when preparing these ingredients. This is a method I’ve developed for cooking safe, delicious hard f...
Read more

The Rising Cost of Sweet Pepper in Jamaica

Image
  The Growing Struggle with Sweet Pepper Prices Sweet pepper also known as bell pepper  may not be an essential in every Jamaican kitchen, but it certainly finds its way into many dishes we love. Whether it’s in stew chicken , stew pork , fry-up saltfish , or steam cabbage , sweet pepper adds that vibrant flavor and color that many of us crave. But these days, walking into a market and seeing the price of sweet pepper can leave you shocked. At $1000 per pound , it's become one of the more expensive items on the grocery list, and the situation has worsened because sweet pepper is now scarce . Even if you can afford to buy it, vendors are prioritizing their loyal customers , making it a challenge to get your hands on any at all. It’s a far cry from the days when sweet pepper was abundant and affordable . In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on why sweet pepper has become such a luxury item , and how the recent Hurricane Melissa has worsened the situation. The Price Surge: A ...
Read more

Naseberry fruit health benefits (Sapodilla)

Image
  Naseberry season is technically over, but the sweet, brown-sugar flavor of this tropical powerhouse is hard to forget. While you might know this fruit as Sapodilla or Chikoo , here in the Caribbean, we know the superior variety as Naseberry . And it is, without a doubt, a premium fruit: the perfectly sized, smooth-skinned ones you see in this post cost me $800 a dozen to secure. Sapodilla (Chikoo) is more than just a delicious sweet treat it’s a powerhouse of nutrition that offers a wide range of health benefits. Whether eaten fresh, blended into smoothies, or used in desserts, this sweet and fiber-rich fruit can be a great addition to any healthy diet. The $800 Sapodilla: What Makes the Naseberry Variety So Special? Most of the fruit sold internationally as Sapodilla is small, but the pristine, large fruit that commanded a premium price tag is a unique variety. This superior quality which locals identify as the Naseberry  is prized for its immense size, clean skin, and...
Read more