Ginger Beer Plant

New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 520, 10 June 1949, Page 23

Ginger Beer Plant

Dear Aunt Daisy, Can you/or any readers tell me what the Ginger Beer Plant is? It must start from something. Also, since we have been making this drink we have heard from a mumber of persons that it is harmful. Is this so or just a tale?

Ginger

Te Puke. |

I have never heard that the ginger | beer made from the plant has any ill effects. It is an old drink of the pioneer settlers, and a good thirst quencher, The plant works on the same principle as a little yeast saved over from One week’s baking serves as a starter for the next. "A little yeast leaventh the whole lump." To make a ginger beer plant put the following into a large 2-quart jat: 1 small cup warm water, 1 dessertspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons compressed yeast dissolved in a little warm water. Let all stand 24 hours. This is the plant. To make ginger beer, mix in a jug 1 small cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 cut-up lemon, without the white pith. Add enough hot water to dissolve sugar, and cold water to make it lukewarm, Then pour on. to the plant. Fill the jar right up, and leave 24 hours. Strain off through muslin, bottle and cork tightly. Make up another mixture as before, and pour on plant. Never leave more than 24 hours. If the plant gets too "hot" it may be divided or thrown out. Never have more than % to Y-inch of plant in the jar. Dried yeast may be used instead of compressed.