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Ginger and Turmeric Shots on a Slow Juicer
Short answer. Ginger and turmeric shots are small, strong juices, usually 30 to 60 ml, made by juicing fresh roots with citrus or carrot to soften the heat. You don’t need to peel fresh, thin-skinned roots: scrub them, slice them thinly and feed them slowly through a horizontal slow juicer such as the Sana 727 or Sana 707. Dilute to taste with orange, lemon, apple or water, freeze what you won’t drink within a day or two as ice cubes, and rinse your juicer straight away, because turmeric stains.
On this page
- What a shot is, and what it isn’t
- Do you need to peel ginger and turmeric?
- Making ginger and turmeric shots on a slow juicer
- Ginger, lemon and orange shot
- Turmeric, carrot and orange shot
- How strong should a shot be?
- Fresh roots or powder?
- Freezing shots as ice cubes
- Dealing with turmeric stains
- Where to buy fresh turmeric in South Africa
- Who should check with a doctor first
- Frequently asked questions
What a shot is, and what it isn’t
A shot is a few mouthfuls of concentrated root juice, softened with citrus or carrot. We make them because we like the sharp, warming bite first thing in the morning, and because a batch takes about 15 minutes.
It is worth being clear about the rest. Ginger has a long history as a traditional remedy, and turmeric has been studied a great deal, but the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that turmeric helps with any particular condition. Many of those studies used concentrated extracts, which is a very different dose from a home-made shot. So make these for the flavour and the ritual, not as medicine.
Do you need to peel ginger and turmeric?
Usually not. Fresh ginger and turmeric have thin skins that juice perfectly well. Scrub the roots under running water with a vegetable brush, cut off any dry ends, and trim away soft or mouldy spots. Organic roots are a good choice if you are leaving the skin on; if yours aren’t organic, give them an extra-thorough scrub.
Older ginger with thick, papery skin is the exception. Scrape that skin off with the edge of a teaspoon, which removes it without wasting the flesh underneath.
Then slice. The Sana 727 manual asks for fibrous ingredients such as ginger to be sliced thinly and fed in small amounts, and thin coins of 2 to 3 mm suit any slow juicer. Wear gloves for turmeric if you don’t want orange fingertips, and use a chopping board you don’t mind staining.
Making ginger and turmeric shots on a slow juicer
Ginger and turmeric are dense and fibrous, and they give less juice than you might expect: a thumb-sized piece of ginger gives only about 10 to 15 ml. Horizontal slow juicers handle them well, because the auger lies flat and presses the fibrous pulp along the screen rather than letting it bunch up.
- Choose a slow speed. On the Sana 727 Supreme, use 40 rpm, the setting Sana gives for root vegetables and fibrous greens. The Sana 707 runs at a single low speed of 63 to 75 rpm.
- Feed little and often. Add a few slices of root, then a piece of orange, carrot or apple to push them through. Let each handful clear before adding more.
- Finish with juicy produce. End with orange or carrot, which carries the last of the root juice out of the drum and gives it a first rinse.
Ginger, lemon and orange shot
This is the simple one, and the one to start with. Orange takes the edge off the ginger, and lemon keeps it sharp. If it is too fierce on the first sip, add more orange or water next time rather than less ginger.
Ginger, Lemon and Orange Shot
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Scrub the ginger under running water, trim any dry ends and slice it into coins 2 to 3 mm thick.
- Peel the oranges and lemons, cut them into pieces and remove the pips.
- Fit the fine screen. On the Sana 727, set the speed to 40 rpm. The Sana 707 runs at one low speed.
- Feed a few slices of ginger, then a piece of orange or lemon to push them through. Let each handful clear before adding the next.
- Finish with orange to carry the last of the ginger juice out of the drum.
- Stir, taste, and add a little water or more orange if it is too strong. Pour into small glasses and rinse the juicer straight away.
Notes
Turmeric, carrot and orange shot
Carrot and orange give this shot body and a deep orange colour, and a little ginger brings back the heat. Plenty of turmeric recipes add a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. It gives a warm, peppery finish, so add it if you like the taste.
Turmeric, Carrot and Orange Shot
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Scrub the turmeric, ginger and carrots. Slice the turmeric and ginger into coins 2 to 3 mm thick and cut the carrots into sticks.
- Peel the oranges and lemon, cut them into pieces and remove the pips.
- Fit the fine screen. On the Sana 727, set the speed to 40 rpm. The Sana 707 runs at one low speed.
- Start with a carrot stick, then feed a few slices of turmeric or ginger, followed by a piece of orange. Repeat, letting each handful clear before adding the next.
- Finish with carrot and orange to push the last of the root juice through.
- Stir in the black pepper if using, pour into small glasses and rinse the juicer straight away to limit staining.
Notes
For more juices and other ideas, browse our recipes.
How strong should a shot be?
Strength is personal. Pure ginger juice is very hot, so most people mix it with something milder. Start with roughly one part root juice to four or five parts mixer, then adjust.
| Mixer | What it does |
|---|---|
| Orange | Rounds off the heat and adds natural sweetness |
| Lemon | Keeps it sharp and bright, adds very little sugar |
| Apple | Mild sweetness; one apple gives about 100 to 120 ml |
| Water | Softens the heat without adding any sugar |
As for how much, a shot is small: 30 to 60 ml. Start at the lower end. NCCIH lists heartburn, stomach discomfort and diarrhoea as possible side effects of ginger, and a strong shot on an empty stomach doesn’t suit everyone.
Fresh roots or powder?
Powder doesn’t juice. It is a dry ingredient with no water to extract, and the 727 manual asks you not to put dry items through the juicer. If you have no fresh turmeric, juice the rest of the recipe and stir a little powder into the finished shot. The flavour is earthier and flatter than fresh root, and the powder settles, so stir or shake before drinking. Fresh roots taste brighter, with a citrusy, peppery edge.
Freezing shots as ice cubes
Shots taste best on the day you make them. A sealed glass bottle filled to the top keeps them in the fridge for a day or two. For longer, freeze them.
- Pour the juice into an ice cube tray. Measure one compartment with water first, so you know how many cubes make a shot.
- Freeze until solid, then tip the cubes into a sealed container or freezer bag.
- Thaw one or two cubes in a glass in the fridge overnight, or drop a cube into a glass of water.
We use frozen cubes within a few weeks. Turmeric will tint a silicone tray, so keep one tray just for shots.
Dealing with turmeric stains
Turmeric colours everything it touches: juicer parts, chopping boards, cloths, grout and pale stone countertops. Acting quickly matters most.
- Rinse the juicer straight away. Take it apart and rinse the parts under running water before the juice dries, and brush the screen with the cleaning brush. Follow your manual’s cleaning guidance: neither the 707 nor the 727 parts go in the dishwasher.
- Let sunlight fade the rest. A faint yellow tint on the screen or bowl is cosmetic. A few hours on a sunny windowsill usually lightens it.
- Soak stubborn deposits. The 707 manual suggests a 30-minute soak in a juicer cleaning product for build-up on the parts.
- Protect your counters. Work on a tray or an old board, and wipe spills at once, especially on light stone, wood and grout.
- Juice turmeric last. If you are making other juices on the same day, make the turmeric shot at the end.
Where to buy fresh turmeric in South Africa
Fresh ginger is in every supermarket. Fresh turmeric is sold in many larger supermarkets and greengrocers, especially in season. Look for firm, plump roots with bright orange flesh, and avoid any that are shrivelled or soft. Kept in a paper bag in the fridge drawer, fresh roots last a couple of weeks. You can freeze them for grating, but let them thaw completely before juicing, because the 727 manual asks you not to juice frozen produce.
Who should check with a doctor first
Ginger and turmeric are foods, but concentrated shots aren’t risk-free for everyone. Ginger may not suit people taking blood thinners or people with gallstones. Liver injury linked to turmeric is rare and mostly involves high-strength supplements, but it means turmeric shots aren’t something to take lightly if you have liver disease. Home-made juice also isn’t pasteurised, and the US Food and Drug Administration advises extra care with it for young children, older adults, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system.
If you are pregnant, take blood thinners or any other regular medication, or have gallstones or liver disease, check with your doctor or midwife before making shots a daily habit.
Made with a Sana juicer
Sana 707 Juicer
R9899,00
Sana 727 Supreme Juicer
Price range: R12999,00 through R14999,00
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to peel ginger and turmeric before juicing?
No, not if the roots are fresh and thin-skinned. Scrub them well with a vegetable brush, trim dry ends and any soft spots, and slice them thinly. Organic roots are a good choice if you leave the skin on. Older ginger with thick, papery skin is easier to scrape with a teaspoon first.
How much ginger shot should I drink?
A shot is small, usually 30 to 60 ml. Start at the lower end, especially on an empty stomach, because strong ginger can cause heartburn or stomach discomfort in some people. If you take medication or have a health condition, speak to your doctor first.
Can I use turmeric powder instead of fresh turmeric?
Not in the juicer. Powder is dry and has nothing to extract, and Sana’s manual advises against putting dry items through the machine. Juice the rest of the recipe and stir a little powder into the finished shot instead, then stir again before drinking, because it settles.
How do I get turmeric stains off my juicer?
Rinse the parts under running water as soon as you finish and brush the screen before the juice dries. A light tint that remains is cosmetic, and a few hours in sunlight usually fades it. For build-up, the 707 manual suggests soaking the parts in a juicer cleaning product for 30 minutes. Don’t put the parts in the dishwasher.
Can I freeze ginger and turmeric shots?
Yes. Freeze them in an ice cube tray, then move the cubes to a sealed container. Thaw a cube or two in the fridge overnight, or drop one into a glass of water. Use them within a few weeks, and keep a separate tray for turmeric, which tints silicone.
Where can I buy fresh turmeric in South Africa?
Many larger supermarkets and greengrocers sell fresh turmeric, especially in season. Choose firm, plump roots with bright orange flesh. They keep for a couple of weeks in a paper bag in the fridge.
Which juicer is best for ginger and turmeric shots?
A horizontal slow juicer, which presses fibrous roots along the screen at low speed. The Sana 727 has a 40 rpm setting for root vegetables and fibrous greens, and the Sana 707 runs at a single low speed. Both press fibrous roots well, especially when you slice them thinly and alternate them with juicier produce.
Sources
- Ginger, US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. nccih.nih.gov
- Turmeric, US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. nccih.nih.gov
- Ginger, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center patient information. mskcc.org
- Turmeric, LiverTox, US National Library of Medicine. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Talking about juice safety, US Food and Drug Administration. fda.gov
- Sana 727 Supreme user manual (English), Sana Products: slicing ginger, dry and frozen produce, cleaning. sanaproducts.com
- Sana 707 user manual (English), Sana Products: cleaning and deposits. sanaproducts.com
