Dandelion Soda Recipe (Naturally Fermented with a Ginger Bug) (2024)

FAQs

Is ginger bug soda good for you? ›

In the same way the beneficial bacteria in kombucha, yogurt, and kimchee aid digestion, natural sodas made with ginger bug culture support a healthy gut.

Yes, dandelion can be easily fermented at home using simple fermentation techniques. It's a great way to preserve the abundance of dandelions that grow in many areas.

Ginger bug is mostly wild yeast on the ginger, fermenting the sugars into alcohol and producing CO2 as a byproduct. It makes a ginger wine. Ginger beer plant is a scoby of yeast and lactic acid bacteria. Personaly I prefer kombucha with fresh ginger added to the second fermentation for flavor.

Ginger Bug can be used straight up, in cooking, teas, tonics or added as a flavour to beverages including kombucha, water kefir or other brews. To keep your Bug alive, you will need to feed it regularly. You can also 'rest' it in the fridge and feed it a tablespoon each of ginger and sugar once a week.

Dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate, and small amounts of other B vitamins. Dandelion greens provide several minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium ( 1 ).

The stems are perfectly edible — they're not so tough and fibrous that you would need to remove them before cooking.

In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach.

If you're not seeing bubbles after a few days, it's possible your ginger bug was contaminated, had traces of chlorine, or was sterilized by harsh direct sunlight. We'd recommend starting over on your ginger bug.

A 'ginger bug' is a wild, lacto-fermented starter culture (a collection of beneficial bacteria and wild yeast) that is used to initiate the fermentation process for authentic, probiotic, ginger beer, like ours. It is a pretty famous concoction amongst fermenters, and is used to make wild fermented sodas.

These are great if you are trying to cut the habit of drinking pop and other unhealthy drinks. It is similar to kombucha, but the ginger bug is a wild ferment made from naturally occurring bacteria. Grate your ginger with the skins left on and mix it with the honey and water. Add filtered water to top the jar.

Is ginger soda good for weight loss? ›

It is not advisable to drink ginger beer or ginger ale for weight loss. These drinks usually contain high amounts of added sugar. However, drinking or making ginger kombucha or kefir without added sugar may be beneficial. These drinks contain natural probiotic bacteria.

For the Ginger Bug: 2 to 3 tablespoons peeled and diced fresh ginger. 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar. 2 cups distilled or filtered water.

The Bottom Line. While fresh ginger root has been shown to help alleviate nausea, most ginger ales aren't made with the real deal. But the carbonation in ginger ale may help settle your upset stomach, not to mention the association might be comforting to you.

“Compared to some of the more well-known and bigger brands of sodas, Olipop is lower in sugar and has natural ingredients.” If you're fond of the fizzy taste of soda, opting for Olipop is a wiser health decision. One can contains 2 to 5 grams of sugar and 45 calories.