Homemade Jamaican Ginger Beer

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This Traditional Jamaican Ginger Beer recipe is an old family recipe that is simple to make. Serve this classic Jamaican ginger drink over ice for a great-tasting Caribbean drink.

Two glasses decorated with slices of fresh lime filled with Jamaican ginger beer and a pitcher of Jamaican ginger beer set alongside

You’ll find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Be sure to check out the blog post itself for extra tips and tricks!

Homemade Jamaican ginger beer is the perfect drink for guests, or for sipping any day of the week. This easy, non-carbonated, non-alcoholic drink is perfect for holiday gatherings and comes together with just a few ingredients.

Ginger root is pureed, simmered with cloves and cream of tartar, then strained and mixed with fresh lime juice, sugar, and vanilla.

If, like me, you enjoy making your own refreshing no-alcohol drinks, why not try my Jamaican Sorrel Drink, Homemade Cranberry Lemonade, Green Sherbet Punch, or my Strawberry Basil Lemonade.

Love, Tanya

A Quick Look at the Ingredients

Ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions are on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Here is what you will need for this recipe:

Water - divided (8 cups for boiling, 2 cups for blending the ginger)
Ginger root, chopped - it is up to you if you feel like peeling it. If you are skipping the ginger peeling, make sure your ginger is washed very well.
Whole cloves - to season the drink a bit.
Cream of tartar is added to many fermented ginger beers. I find that it deepens the flavor a bit.
Lime juice from fresh limes - love adding lime to this drink to balance out the ginger.
Light brown sugar - or sweetener of your choice.
Vanilla extract - rounds out the flavors and adds a subtle sweetness.

How to make Jamaican Ginger Beer

Step 1: Bring 8 cups of water to a boil on the stovetop.

Step 2: Meanwhile, add peeled and chopped ginger root and 2 cups of water to a blender. If you don't have a blender, grate the ginger. Pulse until the ginger is finely chopped and mixed with the water.

A white bowl of roughly chopped ginger root with whole root of ginger set alongside

A glass jar filled with blended ginger root puree

Step 3: Add the ginger to the boiling water and stir it in. Remove from the heat immediately. Add the cloves and the cream of tartar, then cover. Allow the mixture to cool. Once cool, place in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or overnight.

Large pot filled with Jamaican ginger beer

Step 4: Drain the ginger mixture and place the liquid into a large pitcher.

In a separate container, add the freshly squeezed lime juice and whisk in the brown sugar. This will allow the sugar to dissolve easily in the drink, similar to this Jamaican Lemonade.

Cooked Jamaican ginger beer being sieved into a large measuring jug

Glass measuring jug filled with lime juice, brown sugar and a balloon whisk

Step 5: Add the lime and sugar mixture to the pitcher of ginger beer, along with the vanilla extract, and stir.

Serve the ginger beer over ice.

Glass pitcher filled with sieved Jamaican ginger beer

Tanya's Top Tips

1 ½ cups of brown sugar is added to the ginger beer. However, this can be adjusted up or down to taste. If you like it a little sweeter, add more sugar; if it's too sweet, add less. You can also use honey in place of the sugar or granulated sugar.
The longer the ginger beer sits, the stronger it will taste. Once made, let it sit for at least 4 hours; I prefer 24 hours if time permits.
Serve this drink cold. It's nice and refreshing.

A glass decorate with a slice of lime being filled from a pitcher of Jamaican ginger beer

Variations

I like this ginger beer just as it is, but here are some other options:

If you can find Jamaican ginger, it is best to use it in this recipe, as it is aromatic and pungent, with superior flavor to other ginger roots. Otherwise, use the ginger root you can find in-store.
Strictly for the over-21 audience only, this ginger beer, poured over ice with a shot of rum, makes a delicious drink. Or add the drink to your favorite cocktail.

FAQs:

How long can you store Jamaican ginger beer?

Store the ginger beer in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Why is cream of tartar added to ginger beer?

Ginger beer is typically fermented, which is why the cream of tartar is added; it stops the sugar from crystallizing. It deepens the flavor of ginger beer as well.

Is Jamaican ginger beer healthy?

This ginger beer is packed full of ginger root, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger also boosts the immune system, helping prevent colds and flu.

Does ginger beer settle the stomach?

This natural ginger beer is ideal, as ginger root aids digestion, so it is good for your gut health too. It helps settle the stomach, combating nausea or other ill effects from overeating.

If you have tried this Jamaican Ginger Beer recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

Tanya Harris