Question 1

Can You Drink A Ginger Bug? Is it Safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can drink a Ginger Bug straight. Think of a Ginger Bug as a probiotic-rich gut shot. It will have a potent beer-like fermented taste that's slightly fizzy.

Question 2

Do You Need to Peel Ginger for Ginger Bug?

Accepted Answer

The beneficial bacteria and wild yeasts that we will be cultivating to make our Ginger Bug live on the skin of the raw ginger root. When making a Ginger Bug, be sure to leave the skin on your grated ginger.

Question 3

Is Ginger Bug Good For You?

Accepted Answer

A Ginger Bug is a probiotic-rich fermented starter that empowers you to make healthy sodas at home. Homebrewed Ginger Bug drinks are filled with gut-friendly lactobacillus bacteria that are known to provide many health-boosting benefits.

Question 4

Is Ginger Bug Alcoholic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, during the process of fermentation, your Ginger Bug will process sugar and produce alcohol as a byproduct. The longer you allow your soda or beer to ferment, the higher the alcohol content. A typical long-fermented ginger beer may contain upwards of 5% alcohol. A short-fermented soda will have less.

Question 5

How Do You Keep Ginger Bugs Alive?

Accepted Answer

Ginger Bugs must be fed a combination of sugar, water, and ginger daily in order for the bacteria and yeast to survive. Ginger Bugs also prefer warm, dark, dry locations to ferment, organic ginger root, chlorine free water, and raw sugar.

Question 6

How Do You Know When A Ginger Bug Is Ready?

Accepted Answer

After at least a week of daily feedings, your Ginger Bug is ready to use when a layer of vigorously bubbly, fizzy ginger has formed on top after feeding.

Question 7

Why Did My Ginger Bug Stop Bubbling?

Accepted Answer

There are many reasons why your Ginger Bug may have stopped bubbling. Your Ginger Bug may still be alive but may be in need of a feeding or a new home. Additionally, you may have shocked the Ginger Bug by changing the proportion of sugar, water, and ginger that you feed your bug (resulting in too much alcohol production and a dormant bug). If you've recently moved your Ginger Bug to a new location, the change in temperature or humidity may affect its performance.

Question 8

What Should My Ginger Bug Look Like?

Accepted Answer

A healthy Ginger Bug is a dark gold/brown vigorously bubbly solution with a thin layer of sediment on the bottom and a nice layer of floating ginger on top.

Question 9

Can You Freeze Ginger Bug?

Accepted Answer

No. Freezing your Ginger Bug can kill or hinder the performance of your starter.

Question 10

How Do You Use Ginger Bugs?

Accepted Answer

Ginger Bugs are used to make homebrewed fermented sodas like ginger beer, root beer, and even lemonades and cream sodas.

Question 11

Can You Revive a Ginger Bug?

Accepted Answer

You cannot revive a truly dead Ginger Bug, but you can test to see if your Ginger Bug is actually dead. Take a tablespoon of your Ginger Bug starter and add it to a glass jar along with 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 3 tablespoons water. Mix and allow to ferment for 24 hours. If the mixture is bubbly after 24 hours, your original Ginger Bug may still be alive and in a dormant state.

Question 12

How Should Ginger Bug Smell?

Accepted Answer

A Ginger Bug has a sweet, slightly alcoholic fermented smell with a hint of ginger.

Question 13

Should I Strain My Ginger Bug?

Accepted Answer

There is no need to strain your living Ginger Bug. It can be strained when adding your Ginger Bug starter to a soda mixture.

Homestead

Ginger Bug: A Guide to Homemade Fermented Sodas