Ginger Tonic

This tonic celebrates the wonderful healing powers that ginger has to offer. A good peace offering for an uneasy stomach or even fatigue. Spicy, fragrant and warming on an autumnal day. You can alternatively serve cold, with an extra slice of thin lemon if you wish. Should you prefer a more bitter taste, omit the honey all together.

Makes 900ml

Ingredients:

~ 10cm piece of root ginger

~ juice of half a lemon

~ 2 tbsp clear honey (optional)

Method:

1. Start by bringing 1 litre of water to the boil in a large saucepan over a high heat. As I often do, you could use the kettle to speed up the boiling process.

2. Leaving the skin on, thinly slice the ginger and add to the water. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to a medium heat and leave to simmer for 20 minutes, stir occasionally, allowing the ginger to infuse into the water.

3. Once simmered, proceed to add the lemon juice and honey if using. Always ensure you taste the tonic to get a good balance of sweet and sour, adding a little more honey to sweeten or more lemon juice to boost the sour elements if required.

4. Once you’re happy with your tonic’s flavour, strain the tonic through a sieve, before transferring to a pitcher or jug. You can drink the tonic warm like this or serve cold, allowing to cool first before refrigerating.