Lemongrass Ginger Cooler

One of the most refreshing drink for Summer, this Lemongrass Ginger Cooler is easy to make and delicious! 

It comes together in under 10 minutes and is great for any party or to just enjoy on a warm afternoon.

Summer calls for cooling drinks and lemongrass is one of the best ingredients to add to drinks. It is refreshing and delicious. Plus, it has so many health benefits.

For the longest time I have had a lemongrass plant in my back yard. A large chunk of the produce goes into making Masala Chai but I use it in many other recipes too. 

Asian soups, drinks, some Thai and other Asian curries and desserts like Masala Chai Popsicles are popular to make with lemongrass stalks.

Jump to:

• What is Lemongrass Cooler
• Why this recipe works
• Ingredients and Substitutions
• Using saffron in the recipe
• Recipe FAQs
• Serving
• More delicious Summer drinks
• Lemongrass Ginger Cooler

What is Lemongrass

A tropical grass popular in many parts of Asia, lemongrass finds application in essential oils, cooking, baking and medicines. The grass has a fragrance similar to lemons and gets its name 'lemongrass'.  

Known to boost immunity (read more on Wikipedia) this grass has two parts; the thicker base and thin leaves. 

In India we generally use the leaves as an addition to Chai. The thicker stem has far more flavor and is used in soups, curries and desserts. 

What is Lemongrass Cooler

Lemongrass Ginger Cooler combines the flavors of two healthy ingredients to make one delicious drink that is amazing through the summer months.

This drink has the essence from gingers and the flavors from lemongrass. All mixed in with some saffron for the bright sunshine color and flavor.

This cooler is one of our favorites and works really well for parties too. Moreover, it has a tropical flavor to it and is definitely a great addition to the summer recipe list.

Why this recipe works

• This lemongrass ginger cooler is great for any time of the year, especially for summers. It is cooling, refreshing and delicious.
• Easy to make, it comes together in under 10 minutes. And once you have the syrup cooked, kids can make this by themselves too.
• While I make it with water, the same can be made with sparkling water or with some alcohol too.
• This drink has a mix of good for you ingredients like lemongrass, ginger and saffron. It does have some sugar but that can be eliminated or substituted with honey or date syrup too.
• The syrup can easily be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Thus, it works great as a make ahead recipe for any party.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Lemongrass: Lemongrass is the prime ingredient in the recipe. If you have access to a whole stalk of lemongrass, use the green leaves and the bottom thick part too. These together have the most flavor. If not, just the leaves work too.
• Ginger: The next ingredient we use is ginger. It is zesty, packed with flavor and great for the body. A small amount of ginger definitely goes a long way. Fresh ginger works best for the recipe. Ginger powder can be used too but it is not as flavorful.
• Saffron: To impart a natural flavor and color to the drink, I add some saffron. The signature yellow tinge from the saffron is amazing and it also adds a lot of flavor. 
• Sugar: Sugar is used as a sweetener here, but honey or jaggery works too. 
• Water: I topped the syrup with water. However, using carbonated water would work well too. Adding a hint of alcohol works as well.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition. 

How to make this recipe

1- In a pan add chopped lemongrass, grated ginger and sugar. 

2- Add 1 cup water and boil till it bubbles. Then turn down flame and let it cool to room temperature. 

3- In a mortar pestle add a few saffron strands and crush them with a pestle. Add 2 cubes of ice and let them stand for a while. 

4- As they melt, they will extract the color and flavor from the saffron. 

5- Then transfer the saffron infused water to a jar.

6- Once the lemongrass mixture is cool, strain it into the jar with saffron and mix. This syrup can be refrigerated for a week. 

7- In a glass add ice cubes. Then pour 2-3 tablespoon of the prepared syrup in the glass and top with water.

8- Serve with a sprig of mint and a stalk of lemongrass. 

Using saffron in the recipe

We use saffron in the recipe to get a bright sunshine color. So you would want to extract maximum color from the strands. 

For a very long time I used to steep them in hot water or milk to get the color. Only recently did I learn that ice extracts the color really well compared to hot liquids. 

So to do so, crush the saffron strands in a mortar and add some ice cubes. Leave it to melt and the resulting water will have LOTS of flavor and color. I use this method in all my saffron based recipes now.

Expert Tips and Notes

• The syrup for the recipe is great to make ahead of time. Prepare it and refrigerate. Moreover, use as required for different combinations of drinks.
• The lemongrass root has the maximum flavor. Tr y and use it to make the syrup along with the leaves. That way the syrup has a deep lemongrass flavor.
• Add some turmeric root with ginger root for a healthier version and a nice colored drink. Then, saffron may be reduced in the recipe.
• Moreover, serve it with sparkling water, a wedge of lime and some mint leaves for a wonderfully refreshing day time drink.
• Alternatively, add a hint of rum and soda to make it into a delicious mojito.
• Make a single glass or make a large batch, the recipe scales really well.

Recipe FAQs

Serving

More delicious Summer drinks

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