Ginger Shot Recipe

By
Laurel Randolph
Photo of Laurel Randolph Photo of Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.
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Updated on 12/1/22
Medically reviewed by
Sharon Lehman, RDN
Sharon Lehman Sharon Lehman
Medically reviewed by Sharon Lehman, RDN
Sharon Lehman is a freelance writer and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in food, health, and wellness topics. She is the Small Appliance Expert for The Spruce Eats.
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Tested by
Diana Andrews
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Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.
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Ginger shot in a glass with fresh ginger Ginger shot in a glass with fresh ginger

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Strain Time: 7 mins
Total: 17 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 cups

If you need a little pick-me-up, try a fresh ginger shot. The simple combination of ginger, lemon, and honey is sure to put some pep in your step. This quick and easy recipe doesn't require a juicer—simply whirl everything up in a blender and strain. It's far cheaper than buying it at the store, and you can customize the flavor to your liking. Increase the lemon juice if you like and adjust the honey to your taste or omit it altogether. Add a pinch or two of cayenne, fresh turmeric, and more.

Ginger has long been used as a natural remedy for a long list of ailments and is celebrated for its many potential health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Ginger has been well-studied and two notable benefits are weight loss and blood pressure support. Lemons are similarly celebrated for their health properties, and may also aid in lowering blood pressure. Whether you enjoy the combination of ginger and lemon for its health benefits or its flavor, you're sure to love this ginger shot.

This recipe makes eight to ten two-ounce shots. It's the perfect amount for a blender and strainer and you'll have the mixture ready for the week. If you have a small blender and want fewer servings you can halve the recipe.

"WOW! A potent, wake-me-up, vibrant shot! Aside from consuming as a 2-ounce shot, I could definitely see adding this ginger-lemon juice to a winter soup to make it even more warming, or as an ingredient to jazz-up a smoothie. I didn't add honey this time, but next time I will." —Diana Andrews

Ginger shot in a glass Ginger shot in a glass
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh ginger

  • 5 to 6 medium lemons

  • 1/4 cup cold water

  • 1/4 cup honey, or to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ginger shot ingredients gathered Ginger shot ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Wash and dry the ginger, then coarsely chop.

    Chopped ginger on a cutting board with a knife Chopped ginger on a cutting board with a knife

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Juice the lemons, straining off the seeds, and pulp until you have about 2/3 cup of lemon juice.

    fresh lemon juice in bowl fresh lemon juice in bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add the ginger, lemon juice, water, and honey, if using, to a blender.

    Ginger, lemon juice, water, and honey in a blender Ginger, lemon juice, water, and honey in a blender

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Blend on high until a mostly smooth, thick mixture forms, stopping to scrape down the bowl occasionally, about 2 minutes.

    Ginger shot ingredients blended to fine pulp Ginger shot ingredients blended to fine pulp

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Transfer the mixture to a fine-mesh strainer lined with a doubled sheet of cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel set over a medium bowl. Let drain for several minutes.

    Ginger shot draining through cheesecloth lined mesh strainer over a bowl Ginger shot draining through cheesecloth lined mesh strainer over a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Gather up the edges of the cloth and twist, squeezing the ginger pulp into a ball inside the cloth. Squeeze well and continue to twist, until no more liquid is dripping out of the cloth and the pulp is very dry. Discard the pulp.

    Ginger shot liquid drained into a bowl Ginger shot liquid drained into a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Transfer the liquid into a bottle using a funnel and chill.

    Finished ginger shot drained into a pitcher Finished ginger shot drained into a pitcher

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Tip

If you don't have cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel, you can add the pulp directly to the fine-mesh strainer. Press the mixture against the strainer using a wooden spoon to expel all of the juice.

Recipe Variations

  • For an extra kick, add a couple of pinches of cayenne pepper, or to taste.
  • Make it a turmeric ginger shot by swapping half of the ginger for fresh turmeric. Or add one teaspoon of ground turmeric before blending.
  • Swap the water for coconut water.
  • Swap the lemon juice for fresh orange juice. Or, for a fruitier shot, include the lemon juice and swap the water for fresh orange juice.
  • If you're vegan, swap the honey for maple syrup or agave, or leave it out.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Ginger shots are best consumed as fresh as possible.
  • They will keep for up to a week in the fridge in a tightly sealed container. Shake well before consuming.
  • To freeze for longer storage, add the juice to an ice cube tray and freeze. Transfer the cubes to a zip-top freezer bag, and store for up to a month. You can add them, frozen, to smoothies and blended juices.


How to Serve Ginger Shots

A ginger shot can be taken much like an alcohol shot. Swig it back for an invigorating punch of fresh spice. You can also incorporate it into other drinks:

  • Add it to your green smoothie for a spicy, tangy kick.
  • Mix with sparkling water for a dry, invigorating soda.
  • Add to iced tea.
  • Add to a chai or other spiced tea for extra flavor.

What are Ginger Shots good for?

Ginger shots are a delicious wake-up, giving you an all-natural boost. Use them to start your day or as an afternoon sip. They're full of all-natural ingredients with potential health benefits.

Are Ginger Shots good for you?

Ginger shots are low in calories, fat, and (depending on if and how much sweetener is added) low in sugar. They're a nice addition to a balanced diet.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
114 Calories
1g Fat
29g Carbs
2g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 114
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 9mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 81mg 406%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 499mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Mao, Qian-Qian et al. “Bioactive Compounds and Bioactivities of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe).” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 8,6 185. 30 May. 2019, doi:10.3390/foods8060185

  2. Wang J, Ke W, Bao R, Hu X, Chen F. "Beneficial effects of ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe on obesity and metabolic syndrome: a review." Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017;1398(1):83-98. doi:10.1111/nyas.13375

  3. Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M. "Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials." Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362

  4. Klimek-Szczykutowicz M, Szopa A, Ekiert H. Citrus limon (Lemon) phenomenon—a review of the chemistry, pharmacological properties, applications in the modern pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries, and biotechnological studies. Plants (Basel). 2020;9(1):119.