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Tamarind and Ginger Lemonade

Tamarind and Ginger Lemonade is a bold, tangy, deeply flavoured modern Nigerian artisan drink that combines the intense sourness of tamarind with the fiery warmth of fresh ginger and the sharp brightness of fresh lemon in a drink of remarkable complexity. It represents the Nigerian artisan drinks movement that is emerging in Lagos and Abuja, where creative entrepreneurs are taking traditional Nigerian ingredients and presenting them in contemporary formats.

Tamarind and Ginger Lemonade, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • A big piece of compressed dried tamarind
  • A very big piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
  • Juice of 4 big fresh lemons
  • 6 glasses of cold water
  • Sugar or honey to taste
  • A pinch of salt
  • A small amount of fresh mint — for garnish
  • Ice cubes

Method

  1. 01

    Extracting the Tamarind. Soak the tamarind in 2 glasses of warm water for 15 minutes. Knead to dissolve the pulp. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing firmly. Discard the fibrous residue.

  2. 02

    Making the Ginger Juice. Finely grate the ginger. Place in a fine sieve or muslin cloth. Squeeze firmly to extract all the ginger juice. Set aside.

  3. 03

    Combining. Combine the tamarind liquid, ginger juice, fresh lemon juice and remaining cold water. Add sugar or honey generously to balance the intense tartness of the tamarind and lemon. Add a pinch of salt. Stir very well until sugar is dissolved.

  4. 04

    Chilling. Refrigerate until very cold.

  5. 05

    Serving. Pour over ice in tall glasses. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a slice of lemon.

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