Jus de Gingembre

Peel the ginger root and chop roughly. Blend with two cups of water in a blender until completely pureed, or grate finely on a box grater.

Strain the ginger puree through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, pressing firmly to extract all the spicy juice.

Add the remaining water, lemon juice, sugar, vanilla extract, and nutmeg to the ginger juice. Stir vigorously until the sugar fully dissolves.

Taste and adjust sweetness and tartness. The drink should balance the fiery heat of ginger with the sweetness of sugar and brightness of lemon.

Refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the drink to become very cold. The ginger flavor intensifies as it rests.

Serve over ice in tall glasses, garnished with fresh mint leaves. This drink is incredibly refreshing in the tropical heat of the Congo.