Lemon Ginger Water
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Start your day with lemon ginger water. Simple, refreshing, and something I keep coming back to.
A glass of warm or lukewarm lemon water in the morning feels like a small reset for the body. Especially after the holidays when, let’s be honest, most of us weren’t too concerned about what we ate. And why would we be? Between the cookies, appetizers, and festive meals, it’s nearly impossible to resist the good stuff when it’s all around you.
Personally, I think Christmas and New Year’s Eve are reason enough to enjoy those extra treats or go in for seconds of your favorite dishes. What about you?
The new year often brings new goals, and for many, that includes eating a bit lighter, cooking more from scratch, or simply being more mindful of what we’re putting on our plates.
For me, it always comes back to balance. I believe it’s totally fine to eat what you love, as long as it’s in moderation. I try to keep things simple and focus on real ingredients most of the time.
So here’s my first post of the year. A light and refreshing drink that’s part of my January routine: lemon ginger water.
A quick note on balance
I’ve read before that our bodies, like our skin, have a natural pH balance. Some people find it helpful to include more alkalizing foods. Whether or not you follow that idea, I just like how lemon and ginger make me feel when I add them to water. It’s a habit I enjoy and one that’s easy to stick with.
How I make lemon ginger water
This drink takes just a few minutes to prepare and is easy to sip throughout the day. I usually fill a jug or a few jars with water the night before and keep them in the fridge. That gives the ginger time to infuse the water.
If the ginger ends up too strong for your taste, just add more water next time or use less ginger. Some roots are milder than others. I’ve had batches where I barely noticed the flavor, even when I added a generous amount.
As for the lemon, I always squeeze it in right before drinking. The flavor is fresher that way. I usually use about half a lemon per glass, but this depends on how sour the lemons are and how strong you want the taste. Sometimes a wedge is more than enough. If you prefer more flavor, add more lemon. You really can’t go wrong here.
Why I like this lemon ginger water
- Takes less than 5 minutes to make.
- Easy to prep the night before.
- Great to take with you in a water bottle (just add the lemon juice right before drinking).
A few things I’ve noticed
- I like drinking it before breakfast, especially when it’s warm or lukewarm. It feels soothing.
- Adding the lemon juice fresh makes a difference.
- If you’re not a fan of ginger, just skip it. The lemon on its own is still refreshing.
Other drinks I enjoy
If you’re looking for more refreshing drink ideas, try this carrot and celery juice, a colorful beet and carrot juice or this light and cooling kiwi mint water. All simple, easy to make, and great when you want something homemade.
Let me know in the comments how you like to flavor your water, or if you have a favorite morning drink to start the day!
Lemon Ginger Water Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups water (1 quart/1 liter, filtered or bottled)
- 1-1.4 ounces ginger root (30-40 grams)
- 1 medium lemon
Instructions
- Wash, peel and slice ginger. Throw it in a jug filled with water and place in the fridge overnight.
- The following morning, pour into a glass and heat up until lukewarm. Squeeze in a wedge of lemon and drink before your breakfast.
- Drink throughout the day, cold or lukewarm if you prefer. For the freshest taste, add the lemon juice just before drinking.
Notes
- The flavor of ginger can vary depending on the root. If yours is strong, reduce the amount or add more water.
- You can peel and thinly slice the ginger or grate it for a stronger infusion.
- Store the ginger water in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Add lemon only when ready to serve.
- If you prefer a milder drink, start with less ginger and adjust next time.
Can you convert the 1-1.4 ounce Ginger Root (30-40 grams). How much is that converted to in inches of the root?
Hi Lorna. You will need about 2 inches of the root.
I am drinking a hot tea of this right now and it is amazing!
Thanks for your feedback, Anne! Glad to hear you like it.
Can I refill the water with the same ginger more than once?
You can (only refill during a day, but use fresh slices the next day), but for best results I recommend changing the ginger for fresh – this will give you a stronger taste and should also be more beneficial to you.
I read a recipe for boiling lemon and ginger..then
leaving in refrigerator for 2 days..then drinking it lukewarm for detox and to build immunity…do u have that recipe?
Hi Jenny. I am afraid, I only have this recipe.
i love it,definitely helps me feel less bloated and energized.
Yay! That’s great to hear!
Thank you so much. I started drinking ginger/lemon water and I love it. I do have one question because I make a large pitcher at a time. How many days is the ginger good in the water, or should it be changed daily? I did refill the container a couple of times before discarding, but was wondering if I should not do this. Thanks.
Hi Diana. I am glad to hear that. I’d say the ginger should be fine for 2 days or maybe even more but the longer it sits in the water, the weaker it becomes so to get the most benefits out of this lemon ginger water, I recommend changing it daily.Hope this helps.
I couldn’t find real ginger at our hometown grocery. Can I use the ground ginger that was in the spice isle?
I have never tried it myself so I am not sure, Tina.
Hi can you drink it all day from the fridge overnight
In the morning I don’t have time to boil it so can I put it in my drinking jar overnight in the fridge add lemon in morning and have it all day at work
Yes, you can do that!
is ginger and lemon good for expecting mother
Hi Joy, I highly recommend checking this with a specialist.
Does it have to be refrigerated overnight? If it’s to be consumed warmer, couldn’t it be left out on the counter?
Hi Michelle. I don’t recommend leaving it on the counter overnight as there is always a risk the water will go bad. It’ better to heat it up slightly before consuming.
Thanks. :)
Hi Julia,
I’m going to try this recipe. Question: I’ve never heard of the notion that “water will go bad” before – can you explain this? Thank you.
Hi Nia. Sorry for the confusion. When you are infusing water with fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs…, the water should always be stored in the fridge while infusing. Especially, when it says to infuse for a longer period of time (e.g.overnight). This is just to make sure the water will not go off before you can enjoy it. It’s the ingredients you use in the water that can go bad, not the water itself. Just for this reason – to be safe, I recommend keeping it in the fridge while infusing and before drinking. You can heat it up slightly to bring it to a room temperature without a problem. Hope this explains a bit.
What if I boil it up after a few days of being left in water on the counter?
Hi, you should not be leaving it on the counter for days. Just discard it and make a new batch with fresh ingredients.
Can I use crushed ginger
Hi Gorata. I am not sure if you are talking about crushed ginger that is sold in the grocery stores or you want to crush it yourself. I have no experience using the store-bought product but I’d say that if no other ingredients are added to it then you can give it a go. However, fresh is always the best choice to get the most benefits out of it. Also the water to ginger ratio will be different as crushed ginger is stronger so you will have to adjust it to your liking. But start with little. Hope this helps.
I just put my ginger root into the juicer . I got about a tablespoon and ahalf if juice. I put it in a 3 qt pitcher and that is very strong. So as I take a 16 oz glass of water from it the first 2 times I add that much water back. It is strong. I think I would rather just put the root whole in the gallon of water over night
Hi, Gail. Pure ginger juice is very strong and cannot be even compared with crushed or sliced. For that reason you only use a little and add as much water as you wish.
This drink is also a detox drink. How many days you need to detox your body with the lemon ginger water. And is it necessary to eat healthy while drinking it?
The importance of detoxification is getting rid of toxins from your body so it is important to eat/drink healthy while doing it. I am not a professional so I cannot tell you how many days you need to detox your body and for this you should contact a person or check websites that specialize in this. This recipe is to help you understand what food/drink is good for this. Now you can drink it on regular basis but if you want to detoxify your body properly, you should definitely look up more information online or seek a professional.
Thanks Julia.
Can I use lime instead of lemon?
Yes, you can :)
Can you use ginger powder in place of fresh ginger?
I am afraid you can’t. It’s important to use fresh ginger here.
Yes
Can I just mix the lemon and ginger and drink it through out the day. Also can I add lemon juice.
Yes you can mix them and drink through out the day. It just won’t be as strong at the beginning. If you mean freshly squeezed lemon juice then yes.
Can you keep reusing the ginger root?
Stephanie, you can reuse the ginger root but I would reuse it once only. The second batch will not be as strong – so you will have to try for yourself if that is something you like.
I literally just hd a lunch with friends where (over wine) we all declared we HAVE to go on a cleanse…..it seems almost meant to be! I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE!!
Haha, I see we all have the thoughts of cleansing from time to time!:) I think this is the easiest way to start – it’s simple to make and very refreshing!