Ginger Shot Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
After over twenty years of drinking wellness shots, I’m sharing the homemade ginger shot recipe I swear by. With just five fresh ingredients and a blender, it’s a powerful, immune-boosting pick-me-up that’s affordable, customizable, and deliciously potent.
Homemade ginger shots
Ginger shots are nothing new, but wait until you try my homemade version!
I used to spend far too much on pre-bottled immunity shots whenever I felt a cold coming on or was feeling a little rundown. They worked, but I couldn’t justify the cost. Luckily, making your own is easier than you think- and it’s become a wintertime staple for my family.
I’ve been making immunity shots for years and, through plenty of testing, have found the perfect combination of ingredients that pack in nutrition and flavor- without leaving you with a sour face. No fancy juicer required; just a regular blender and sieve. Easy peasy!
Key Ingredients
- Ginger. Fresh ginger root will give the ginger shots a potent, almost spicy flavor. Peel and chop them before adding to the blender.
- Orange and lime juice. Freshly squeezed, if possible. I sometimes also peel the citrus and throw the fruit into the blender for a more intense citrus flavor (but not everyone likes this).
- Pineapple. Fresh pineapple gives the ginger shots a tropical sweetness while sneaking in high levels of vitamin C and bromelain for easy digestion. If I’m making these shots for myself, I sometimes omit this.
- Coconut water. Refreshing, hydrating, and sweet. I like to use a little bit to thin the consistency and add a little more sweetness. Feel free to use plain water instead if you want.
- Turmeric. Optional, but adds an extra layer of nutrition.
Flavor variations
- Add turmeric. Up to 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric or 1 tablespoon of fresh turmeric.
- Other spices. If you love a spicy hit, try some black pepper or cayenne pepper.
- Other citrus. I purposely didn’t use lemon instead of oranges to make sure it wasn’t too sour. If you love a super sour shot, swap the orange out for one lemon. Grapefruit will also work.
- Add greens. Blend spinach, kale, or your favorite leafy greens or fresh herbs into the juice.
How to make ginger shots
Step 1- Juice: Juice the orange and the lime.
Step 2- Chop ginger: Peel the ginger and chop into one-inch pieces.
Step 3- Blend: Blend the ginger, orange juice, lime juice, and pineapple in a blender until smooth.
Step 4- Strain: Strain the juice through a strainer.
Step 5- Combine: Add the coconut water to the strained juice, and serve.
Frequently asked questions
Based on my family’s experience with drinking ginger immunity shots regularly for years, they’re a quick and powerful way to support your immune system and overall wellness. I especially like to take it when I feel the onset of a cold or flu coming. Ginger itself is naturally high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which help soothe upset stomachs and fight off seasonal colds (source).
I find the best time to take a ginger shot is mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when you need an energy burst or a little pick-me-up without the caffeine. Some of my family prefer to take it first thing in the morning to give their digestion a gentle wake-up call. If this is your first time taking ginger shots, I recommend taking them after a meal and starting with half a serving.
While I find fresh ginger gives the most potent flavor and maximum nutrients, I’ve tested the powdered version, and it’ll work if that is all you have on hand. I recommend using 1/4 teaspoon of powdered ginger for every tablespoon of fresh ginger. Also, you may want to increase the amount of pineapples or coconut water, as the powdered ginger is a little concentrated.
From my own experience and common nutrition advice, limit yourself to no more than three ginger shots a day. They’re concentrated in gingerol (an active compound) that can cause heartburn or digestive issues. I usually have one daily, or up to two or three if I’m fighting off a cold.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Juice the citrus the easy way. Juice the fruit using a citrus reamer rather than squeezing it by hand. If you don’t have a citrus reamer, cut the citrus in half and place it between the handles of a pair of tongs. Squeeze over a bowl until you have all the juice you need.
- Make a large batch. To make a larger batch of ginger shots, double or triple the recipe and store the mixture in an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 3 days or freeze for longer. If I have time, I like to store these in little 2-ounce bottles for a quick pick-me-up.
- Include the pulp. I love thicker juices and drinks, so if I’m making these for myself, I add some citrus pulp at the end. Again, this is not for everyone.
Storage instructions
To store: Keep the strained juice in an airtight container or pitcher and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To freeze: Pour the ginger shot juice into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen cubes to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 1 month. Let as many cubes as you need thaw in the fridge overnight, then drink the next day!
If you tried this Ginger Shots recipe, please leave a star rating and comment. It helps others thinking of making this.
Ginger Shots Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 ounces ginger
- 1 large orange
- 1 lime
- 4 1/2 ounces pineapple
- 1/2 cup coconut water
Instructions
- Slice the peeled ginger into small cubes. Juice the orange and lime and set aside.
- Place the ginger, orange juice, lime juice, and pineapple in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer and add coconut water to the strained mixture, discarding the pulp.
- Serve fresh or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Leftovers: I usually make up enough for 3 days. I don’t recommend keeping them longer, as they can go bitter. Freeze portions in ice cube trays and freeze for up to 6 months.
Is that pineapple chunks or juice?
Hi Diane- chunks, it’s the whole pineapple 🙂
Could lemon juice be used instead of pineapple? I eat pineapple everyday as it’s a natural diuretic.
I don’t see why not 🙂
Thank you for the recipe, will try it out
Can you use unsweetened canned pineapple chunks/slices instead of fresh for the ginger shots?
Yes, of course 🙂
At my age, we need more immunity….thanks for this! I see your recipe to use fresh ginger but the link in the recipe goes to a jar of ginger. Did you try dried or is fresh the way to go, which I love, BTW?
either works as long as it isn’t dried ginger 🙂
I would like to encourage your readers to use black pepper as that is actually very important for the body to use the turmeric. Sometimes you can purchase the turmeric powder with the pepper already mixed it. Excited to make this! Thanks for sharing!
I needed this, I put some the refrigerator in a glass jar for the next 3 days and froze the rest just in case I run out of the fresh ingredients. It was so refreshing it gave the body a zing. Thank you so much for the booster. Absolutely 💜 it.
ginger shots can u use apple instead of pineapple
You sure can!