3 Immune-Boosting Ginger Shots

Stave off the sniffles this winter with a homemade ginger shot. And remember, when it comes to ginger shots a little goes a looooooong way.

When people think of superfoods, ginger immediately jumps to mind. Flavourful and distinctive, ginger can help:

• Soothe an upset stomach
• Aid in digestion
• Reduce inflammation
• Recover faster after a workout
• Boost your immune system

The fresh and lively ginger taste doesn’t hurt either.

It’s clear why many grocery stores, cafés, and smoothie shops are lining their shelves with miniature ginger shots. The only downside? Their ginger shots can come with a pretty steep price tag. So this winter, ditch the store-bought shots and make your own. Bonus: each recipe makes about 10 shots, so invite your friends over for a new kind of “shot-luck.”

But remember — these powerful shots are too potent to be sipped. Throw ’em back shot-style, and wait for the benefits to kick in.

1. Lemon Ginger Shot

Lemon is to ginger as peanut butter is to jelly — a classic, unbeatable combo. If you need added sweetness to balance the shot’s acidity, add a touch of pure maple syrup.

Ingredients:

• 100g fresh ginger (approx. 2 large knobs)
• 3 lemons, juiced
• Maple syrup (optional), to taste

Instructions:

1. Peel, then chop the ginger. Add to a high-speed blender or juicer with the lemon juice.
2. Puree with maple syrup (if using) until smooth.

2. Turmeric-Tangerine Ginger Shot

There’s a reason turmeric is referred to as “Indian gold.” When it joins forces with ginger, the result is an immune-boosting powerhouse. Black pepper aids the body’s ability to absorb turmeric’s key compound, curcumin, so don’t skip it!

Ingredients:

• 100g fresh ginger (approx. 2 large knobs)
• 8 small tangerines, juiced
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon turmeric paste
• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Peel, then chop the ginger. Add to a high-speed blender or juicer with the tangerine juice, water, turmeric paste, and black pepper.
2. Puree until smooth.

3. Apple Cayenne Ginger Shot

Apple for sweetness, lime for tang, and cayenne pepper to subtly — but effectively — wake up those taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 2 medium apples
• 100g fresh ginger (approx. 2 large knobs)
• 2 limes, juiced
• 2 cups water
• Pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Core, then roughly dice the apples.
2. Peel, then chop the ginger.
3. Add the apple slices, ginger, lime juice, water, and a pinch of cayenne to a high-speed blender or juicer.
4. Puree until no large chunks remain, and strain through a fine-meshed strainer.

If the sneezes and sniffles reached you before these Immune-Boosting ginger shot recipes did, don’t fret. We’ve got you covered with some Cold Remedies that’ll do just the trick.