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For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

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Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe

Homemade ginger beer can be hard to find but West African Ginger beer is easy to make at home. The key to making great ginger beer is using lots of ginger. Our Ginger Beer recipe yields six 12-ounce bottles.

Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe
Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe

Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe

Ingredients
12 ounces fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
8½ cups of filtered water
¾ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon champagne yeast

Directions
Process ginger in a food processor until finely minced, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Stir in 4 cups filtered water and sugar and heat over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and let steep uncovered, for 1 hour. Pour infused ginger syrup through a strainer.
Press ginger over a cup with a metal spoon to extract any remaining liquid; discard pulp.

Whisk in lemon juice and yeast until yeast is dissolved. Using funnel and ladle, divide ginger syrup evenly among sanitized bottles. Using a sanitized large measuring cup, divide remaining 4½ cups filtered water among bottles, filling each bottle to within 2 inches of top and cap. Shake gently to combine ingredients.

Store bottles in dark place until carbonated, about 48 hours. Transfer to refrigerator and chill to slow down fermentation. If you wait too long to refrigerate, the beer will continue to carbonate and could potentially force the bottles to explode. Ginger beer can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Fresh ginger
Fresh ginger


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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.