Gnamankoudji (Ivorian Ginger Juice)
In short: A fiery, sweet and sour drink made from fresh ginger blended with water, strained, and finished with sugar and lime juice, served ice cold. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 85 kcal
Gnamankoudji is the ginger juice that Ivorians sell in bottles at markets and drink at every gathering. Fresh ginger is blended with water and strained, then sweetened and sharpened with lime juice. It is fiery, sweet and sour in turn, and it is served very cold. The recipe is simple, but the amount of ginger is large, so expect a drink with real bite.
Instructions
- Put the ginger and 500 ml (2 cups) of the water in a blender and blend for 1 to 2 minutes until the ginger is finely pulped.
- Pour the mixture through a fine sieve lined with a clean cloth into a jug, squeezing hard to extract all the juice.
- Return the pulp to the blender with another 250 ml (1 cup) of water, blend again and strain into the same jug.
- Stir in the remaining water, the sugar and the lime juice until the sugar dissolves.
- Taste and adjust, adding sugar or lime juice as you like.
- Chill for at least 2 hours. Stir before pouring, since the starch settles at the bottom, and serve over ice.
Tips
- For a milder juice, use 120 g (4 oz) of ginger. For a sharper one, add a pinch of cayenne.
- Pineapple juice can replace some of the water for a fruity version, as many vendors do.
Questions and answers
How long does ginger juice keep?
Up to 5 days in a covered bottle in the fridge. A white starchy layer will settle at the bottom, so stir it back in before serving.
Do I need to peel the ginger?
Peeling gives a cleaner, brighter taste. If the ginger is young and thin-skinned, scrubbing it well is enough.
Is gnamankoudji very spicy?
It has a strong ginger heat, but no chili. Sugar and lime balance it, and you can dilute the drink with water or sparkling water if it is too fiery.
How long does it take to make Gnamankoudji (Ivorian Ginger Juice)?
About 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gnamankoudji (Ivorian Ginger Juice)?
About 85 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 21 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 85 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
