Black pepper increases turmeric absorption by 2000%—without it, your ginger shots are basically expensive lemon water.
Homemade Ginger Shots
Revitalize your wellness routine with these zesty homemade ginger shots! Packed with fresh ginger, a splash of zesty lemon, and a hint of honey, this invigorating concoction is your go-to shield against seasonal sniffles. Sip on this spicy elixir and feel the immune-boosting benefits kick in!
Prep
10
min
Cook
5
min
Serves
7
people
Level
beginner
The Story
These fiery wellness shots trace back to 1980s California when Ayurvedic practitioners in Berkeley started blending ancient Indian turmeric-ginger remedies with American juice bar culture—what began as hippie health food in ashrams became the rocket fuel that launched today's $4 billion wellness shot industry across every Whole Foods from Santa Monica to Manhattan.
Regional Twist
In Kerala's Kochi region, they muddle fresh black pepper with the ginger instead of adding ground pepper, then swap apple juice for fresh coconut water from king coconuts.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 whole lemon
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- 800 ml apple juice
- black pepper (to taste)
- 100 g ginger
- turmeric (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Peel and chop the ginger.
- 2
In a blender, combine ginger, turmeric, black pepper, lemon juice, and apple juice.
- 3
Blend until smooth.
- 4
If you prefer a smoother texture, strain the mixture through a sieve.
- 5
Pour into shot glasses and serve.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Freeze ginger for 30 minutes before peeling - the cell walls rupture making the skin slip off easily with a spoon edge, and frozen ginger grates more efficiently without clogging your grater.technique30 minutes
- ✓Add black pepper at a 50:1 ratio to turmeric (1/4 teaspoon pepper per tablespoon turmeric) because piperine increases curcumin bioavailability by up to 2000%.ingredient50:1 ratio, 2000% increase
- ✓Blend on high speed for 90-120 seconds to break down ginger's tough cellulose fibers completely - inadequate blending leaves harsh, fibrous particles that create an unpleasant mouthfeel.timing90-120 seconds
- ✓Use a fine-mesh strainer (100-120 mesh) and press solids with the back of a spoon to extract maximum liquid while removing fiber - this yields 15-20% more smooth liquid than passive straining.equipment100-120 mesh, 15-20% increase
- ✓Consume within 15 minutes of preparation because vitamin C in lemon juice degrades rapidly when exposed to light and oxygen, losing up to 25% potency in the first hour.timing15 minutes, 25% loss
Share this recipe
Prep
10
min
Cook
5
min
Serves
7
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Black pepper increases turmeric absorption by 2000%—without it, your ginger shots are basically expensive lemon water.
Homemade Ginger Shots
Revitalize your wellness routine with these zesty homemade ginger shots! Packed with fresh ginger, a splash of zesty lemon, and a hint of honey, this invigorating concoction is your go-to shield against seasonal sniffles. Sip on this spicy elixir and feel the immune-boosting benefits kick in!
The Story
These fiery wellness shots trace back to 1980s California when Ayurvedic practitioners in Berkeley started blending ancient Indian turmeric-ginger remedies with American juice bar culture—what began as hippie health food in ashrams became the rocket fuel that launched today's $4 billion wellness shot industry across every Whole Foods from Santa Monica to Manhattan.
Regional Twist
In Kerala's Kochi region, they muddle fresh black pepper with the ginger instead of adding ground pepper, then swap apple juice for fresh coconut water from king coconuts.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 whole lemon
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- 800 ml apple juice
- black pepper (to taste)
- 100 g ginger
- turmeric (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Peel and chop the ginger.
- 2
In a blender, combine ginger, turmeric, black pepper, lemon juice, and apple juice.
- 3
Blend until smooth.
- 4
If you prefer a smoother texture, strain the mixture through a sieve.
- 5
Pour into shot glasses and serve.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Freeze ginger for 30 minutes before peeling - the cell walls rupture making the skin slip off easily with a spoon edge, and frozen ginger grates more efficiently without clogging your grater.technique30 minutes
- ✓Add black pepper at a 50:1 ratio to turmeric (1/4 teaspoon pepper per tablespoon turmeric) because piperine increases curcumin bioavailability by up to 2000%.ingredient50:1 ratio, 2000% increase
- ✓Blend on high speed for 90-120 seconds to break down ginger's tough cellulose fibers completely - inadequate blending leaves harsh, fibrous particles that create an unpleasant mouthfeel.timing90-120 seconds
- ✓Use a fine-mesh strainer (100-120 mesh) and press solids with the back of a spoon to extract maximum liquid while removing fiber - this yields 15-20% more smooth liquid than passive straining.equipment100-120 mesh, 15-20% increase
- ✓Consume within 15 minutes of preparation because vitamin C in lemon juice degrades rapidly when exposed to light and oxygen, losing up to 25% potency in the first hour.timing15 minutes, 25% loss