Ginger Syrup – Organic Syrup

Ginger Syrup by pHenomenal Drinks with freshly pressed organic ginger

Ginger Syrup by pHenomenal Drinks is an organic syrup made from fresh ginger juice, orange juice, and agave syrup, which you can use to make your own ginger beer. It’s not a morning ginger shot, but a mixer designed for spirits.

Ginger Syrup is the organic ginger syrup from the Hamburg-based manufacturer pHenomenal Drinks, created in 2013 as their second concept after their tonic. With 30% pure ginger juice, nearly a third of the bottle consists of the root, which you notice immediately upon the first sip. A 250 ml bottle is enough for about twelve long drinks.

First comes the heat, then the orange

The syrup pours golden-yellow and viscous into the glass, smelling of freshly grated ginger with the sweetness of ripe oranges behind it.

If you mix 2 cl with 10 cl of heavily sparkling mineral water, the result is not a mild ginger lemonade, but a drink with noticeable heat: fresh, spicy, and bold. The heat comes solely from the root, without the shortcut of chili tincture, and the orange softens it nicely.

This is precisely where the line is drawn between two terms that are often confused. In English, ginger ale refers to a mild, floral lemonade, whereas ginger beer refers to the drink with significant ginger heat—and this syrup belongs to the latter family.

The classic is called Dark and Stormy

Rum and ginger are the pair that started it all, as this very drink inspired Hendrik Schaulin to create his own recipe.

Mixed with vodka, it becomes a Moscow Mule; with gin, a London Buck; and with sparkling water alone, a lemonade for hot afternoons. The syrup pairs especially well with fruit brandies from local orchards—pear, plum, and cherry handle the ginger heat surprisingly well.

In winter, you can simply top it up with hot water; in the kitchen, it finds its way into stir-fries, curries, or crumble toppings. An Erlenmeyer flask made of laboratory glass with a scale takes the guesswork out of measuring and looks great on the counter, too.

A year after the tonic came the ginger

“Plenty of fresh organic ginger, good heat, not too sweet,” says Hendrik about the challenge he set for himself in 2013.

The ginger comes from Peru and Uganda and is freshly pressed in Southern Germany rather than traveling as an extract. To this, orange juice, a little salt, and tartaric acid from wine production are added, and it is sparingly sweetened with agave syrup. The manufacturer consciously avoids refined sugar because it would otherwise drown out the flavors.

The recommendation is five parts water to one part syrup, and only this concentration allows for genuine direct juices instead of flavorings. The syrup is certified organic and vegan, and an opened bottle keeps well in the refrigerator when tightly sealed. As a concentrate rather than a finished lemonade, it also saves glass and shelf space.

This also convinced the juries: the DLG awarded it the Gold Prize in 2021, and it took home bronze at the 2020 Craft Spirits Awards. Those looking for the bitter counterpart will find the organic syrup with real cinchona bark among the same syrups from the manufacturer. Two bottles, and your home bar is set.

Organic control number – DE-ÖKO-039 EU / Non-EU agriculture