If you like ginger, you will fall in love this festive season

There are some flavours that come into their own at certain times of the year and Christmas is one of those times. Non-alcoholic mulled wine is simmering in the kitchen, the candles are on, oranges are drying in the oven - everything is smelling just delicious.

Cinnamon, star anise, pine, clementine, clove and GINGER are ingredients to name just a few that make an appearance during this season. Although these ingredients remind us of the festivities, they lend themselves wonderfully to alcohol-free drinks and cocktails and are often present all year round as a core ingredient in some of your favourite non-alcoholic spirits and drinks. Their strong characteristics form a core base in cocktails, alongside mixers and provide a bite that turns your drink from a ‘juice’ to something much greater - something with flavour, complexity and depth.

For those of you who didn’t get to enjoy the JOMO Club Festive Box, we featured the wonderful Root2Ginger, for the perfect golden serve and as a key ingredient in the Cocktail of the Month ‘Mulled Nine’.

Root2Ginger’s Founder Deanne has been making ginger drinks for over 25 years after growing up watching her Mother and Aunts making their secret family ginger beer recipe which was enjoyed daily when in Jamaica. “We grated ginger by hand on large, sharp graters that we brought over from Jamaica and it was a job that took all day as a family.”

Deanne has been making and gifting ginger beer for over 25 years to friends and family at special occasions, however in 2017 she decided to turn the drink into a concentrate to give people a more natural ginger and the ability to dilute as they like. It is now a natural ginger concentrate made with organic ingredients and packed with the power of premium ginger. As simple as that.

Each bottle includes Peruvian ginger root, raw cane sugar, lemon juice, fresh limes and spices and do not include any artificial colours, additives or flavourings. We also began to cold press the ginger to maximise the retention of nutrients. We sourced premium organic ginger with a high amount of gingerol, the natural ingredient of ginger that provides all the benefits. We also use organic raw cane sugar and organic lemons.”

So, how is ginger concentrate best enjoyed?

Root2Ginger can simply be paired with sparkling water for the perfect golden serve or with hot water for a warm drink.

It is wonderful in cocktails, such as Mulled Wine or JOMO Club’s Sober October Cocktail of the Month The JOMO Mule which was paired with Wilfred’s, ginger concentrate and topped up with Artisan Drinks Soda.

It truly is the most versatile drink and can even be used in cooking.

R2G share how they love it mixed with pink grapefruit juice and topped with soda or mixed with Lyre’s spiced cane spirit, hot water and a slice of orange and cinnamon. For a perfect Christmas morning Bellini, muddle 1/4 of a peach, add 25ml R2G and top with Noughty Sparkling Chardonnay.

Is ginger good for my health?

Gingerol is the active compound in ginger and has many powerful antioxidants and anti- inflammatory properties. Ginger is nature’s energiser giving you a boost and making you feel good. It also eases migraines, nausea and aches and pains. It is a thermogenic, keeping the body warm as well as activating the metabolism. Ginger is also a natural antihistamine so great for those who suffer from hay fever and great for gut health too. The benefits are endless. It is a great gift to yourself this Christmas.

If you didn’t take part in the December Box and haven’t yet tried Root2Ginger, you can buy your own supply at root2ginger.co.uk and follow their journey for inspiration @root2ginger.