Ginger Beer

PLANT

1/2 tsp dried yeast
8 tsp ground ginger
8 tsp sugar
1 cup warm water

GINGER BEER
4 cups sugar
22 cups cold water
1/2 cup lemon juice

To make plant, on day one, place yeast, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp sugar and the cup of warm water in clean jar. Mix well, cover jar with square of muslin (or porous-type material - I used a clean nappy liner (UNUSED) :), and secure with rubber band. For each of the next 7 days, add 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sugar, stir and cover. To make sugar syrup for ginger beer, on the eighth day, combine sugar with 4 cups of water in a saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low and simmer til sugar is completely dissolved. Combine sugar syrup and remaining water (18 cups) in a clean bucket. Mix in lemon juice (I didn't have a 1/2 cup so just put in what I did have uhm about a 1/4 cup I think - seems to still be fine). Line a sieve with a triple thickness of muslin, place over a bowl and strain plant mixture. Pour resulting liquid into bucket mixture and stir well. Pour into clean bottles ** PET bottles are best ** and seal, leaving a little space at the top. Store in a cool place. Ginger beer is ready after 5-6 days or when it is suitably bubbly. Makes approx 6 litres.

** If you want to make another plant try dividing the mixture left in the muslin when you strain it in half. Place one half back in the jar, and 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp sugar and 1 cup lukewarm water. Cover and feed each day as above. Either chuck out the other half out or use it as a second plant so you've got 2 going. If your PET bottles start to bulge at the bottom or sides then twist the lid and let out abit of the gas. I've had to do this almost every day. Also I didn't get around to doing the syrup til the 10th day so while I stopped feeding it on the 8th day it was sitting on the bench for a couple more days but it certainly doesn't seem worse for wear. **