Dandelion Soda Recipe (Naturally Fermented with a Ginger Bug) (2024)

FAQs

Is ginger bug soda good for you? ›

In the same way the beneficial bacteria in kombucha, yogurt, and kimchee aid digestion, natural sodas made with ginger bug culture support a healthy gut.

The Fermentation Process

Place the dandelion flowers in a clean, sterilized glass jar. Prepare a brine solution by dissolving sea salt in water. The brine should be salty to the taste. Pour the brine over the dandelion flowers, ensuring that they are fully submerged.

Once you have a healthy ginger bug, you can add it to a sweetened beverage like fruit juice, lemonade, or sweetened herbal tea. The ginger bug will consume the sugar in the drink and transform it into a healthy, bubbly, probiotic-rich soda.

5 to 1.5 fl oz of ginger bug liquid, 4-5 fl oz of shelf-stable sweetened fruit juice, and fill the rest of the bottle with filtered water, leaving 1" of headroom. Let sit at room temp for 2-3 days, then refrigerate before serving. If you see a bubbly ring forming at the top of your liquid, you know it's working.

Ginger Bug can be used straight up, in cooking, teas, tonics or added as a flavour to beverages including kombucha, water kefir or other brews. To keep your Bug alive, you will need to feed it regularly. You can also 'rest' it in the fridge and feed it a tablespoon each of ginger and sugar once a week.

Dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate, and small amounts of other B vitamins. Dandelion greens provide several minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium ( 1 ).

In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach.

Dandelion wine has been likened to mead, with a hint of honey taste to it. This wine should be served chilled, and although it won't technically spoil, if it is aged too long it may not taste quite as good. If you've never made wine before, be prepared to be patient—fermenting dandelion wine takes about two years.

If you're not seeing bubbles after a few days, it's possible your ginger bug was contaminated, had traces of chlorine, or was sterilized by harsh direct sunlight. We'd recommend starting over on your ginger bug.

How long does it take to ferment soda? ›

You want the contents to reach up to the bottom of the bottle's neck but no higher. Close the top. Ferment for 2 to 4 days at room temperature and check the carbonation by opening the top slightly. Usually I get enough carbonation on day 3 or 4.

One very interesting thing about natural fermentation is that the bacteria and yeasts will also consume some of the ethanol (alcohol) produced by the fermentation process and convert that into acetic acid. This is why a concentrated culture like a Ginger Bug or SCOBY itself doesn't contain a lot of alcohol.

It is similar to kombucha, but the ginger bug is a wild ferment made from naturally occurring bacteria. Grate your ginger with the skins left on and mix it with the honey and water. Add filtered water to top the jar. Stir.

"No" in that kombucha is made with tea, has a different flavour, and has a different fermentation process. (Fermented ginger beer uses a starter culture called a "ginger bug.") Fermented ginger beer and kombucha taste quite different, but have similar digestive health benefits.

Kombucha is now homebrewed globally, and also bottled and sold commercially. The global kombucha market was worth approximately US$1.7 billion as of 2019. Kombucha is produced by symbiotic fermentation of sugared tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) commonly called a "mother" or "mushroom".

Despite the health benefits of ginger, ginger ale still falls into the category of soft drinks or sodas, so it's not a health food. If you choose to consume ginger ale, it's best to do so in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. Many commercial ginger ale drinks use artificial ginger flavoring.

Ginger root has a long history of relieving nausea. Unfortunately, commercial ginger ale just doesn't contain much ginger and is unlikely to help. Be wary: Carbonation, sugar, and artificial sweeteners may actually worsen your symptoms. In large amounts, they can even bring on diarrhea.

Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, Cola, is ranked the healthiest soda by Eating Well due to containing no calories, sugar, or sodium. LaCroix Sparkling Water is rated as another healthy soda alternative, with each flavor composed only of carbonated water and natural flavor.

For the Ginger Bug: 2 to 3 tablespoons peeled and diced fresh ginger. 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar. 2 cups distilled or filtered water.