A ginger shot is a small, sharp drink, not a medicine or an immunity shield. If you like that bright bite, you can make one with a blender and a fine sieve. You control how strong it tastes, and you don't have to buy a juicer for a tiny batch.
Basic blender method
For about two small servings, use 1 to 2 inches of fresh ginger, 1 lemon, and ½ cup cold water. Rinse the ginger and lemon under running water. Peel the ginger if you prefer, then slice it thinly. Squeeze the lemon and remove seeds. Blend ginger, lemon juice, and water until finely broken down. Strain through a fine sieve into a clean container, pressing gently with a spoon. Taste and dilute with more water if it is too intense. The final yield depends on how thoroughly you strain it.
If you don't mind a little pulp, skip the straining step and call it a ginger drink. That version has a thicker mouthfeel. A nut milk bag will give a clearer result, but it is optional. Wash the blender and strainer soon after use because ginger fibers cling to both.
Variation 1: pineapple and ginger
Blend the basic ginger and water with ½ cup pineapple chunks; use half the lemon juice to start. Pineapple rounds off ginger's heat. If you use frozen pineapple, thaw it enough for your blender to process safely. Strain if you want a thinner shot, or leave it blended as a small smoothie.
Variation 2: orange and ginger
Replace the lemon with the juice of one orange. Start with the smaller amount of ginger and add more only after tasting. Orange makes the drink sweeter without requiring honey, although the result depends on the orange.
Variation 3: gentler lemon ginger
Use ½ inch ginger, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and ¾ cup water. This is a better starting point if straight lemon and ginger taste harsh to you. A teaspoon of honey is optional; stir it in after straining. Do not give honey to children under one year old.
How strong should a shot be?
There is no required daily shot size. Start with a small amount for taste and dilute it if it irritates your mouth or stomach. Drinking more does not make it more effective. The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that ginger taken by mouth can cause heartburn, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or mouth and throat irritation. Its research on specific conditions should not be turned into a promise about this drink.
Storage and food safety
Make a small batch, use clean equipment, refrigerate promptly in a covered container, and discard it if it smells or looks off. Fresh homemade juice is unpasteurized. The FDA advises people who are pregnant to choose pasteurized or otherwise treated juices because harmful bacteria can be present in untreated juice. If you have a medical condition or take medicines, seek individual advice about concentrated ginger products.
Prefer a full glass? Read how to make juice with a blender, or browse the shot recipes for other flavors.