Khemere (Basotho Ginger Drink)
In short: A sweet, sharp homemade ginger drink made from simmered ginger and brown sugar, diluted and chilled overnight. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 6 h
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 100 kcal
Khemere is a homemade ginger drink in Lesotho, sweet, sharp and spicy at once. Fresh ginger is simmered with brown sugar and a little acid, cooled, diluted with cold water and left to chill overnight so the flavors settle. It is served cold, sometimes with pineapple juice stirred in, and it makes a refreshing drink for a crowd. The concentrate keeps well, so you can dilute it glass by glass.
Instructions
- Put the ginger, the 1 liter (4 cups) water, the brown sugar and the cream of tartar in a large pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the liquid smells strongly of ginger.
- Take the pot off the heat, cover and cool for 30 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing the ginger to extract all the liquid.
- Stir in the 1.5 liters (6 cups) cold water and the pineapple juice, if using. Taste and adjust: add more water if it is too strong or a squeeze of lemon if it is too sweet.
- Pour into a jar or pitcher, cover and chill for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Serve very cold, over ice.
Tips
- For a stronger, spicier drink, use 90 g (3 oz) of ginger. Slice it very thinly so it releases its flavor quickly.
- Dilute only as much as you will drink within a few days. The undiluted concentrate keeps longer in the fridge.
Questions and answers
How long does khemere keep?
The diluted drink keeps for 4 days in the fridge. The undiluted concentrate keeps for about 1 week, so dilute it glass by glass if you want it to last.
Is khemere alcoholic?
No. It is a sweet, spicy soft drink, made by simmering and chilling rather than fermenting.
Can I serve khemere hot?
Yes. In cold weather, dilute the concentrate with hot water instead of cold for a warming ginger drink.
How long does it take to make Khemere (Basotho Ginger Drink)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Khemere (Basotho Ginger Drink)?
About 100 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 26 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 100 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
