pHenomenal Organic Ginger Syrup. Organic ginger syrup for mixing your own ginger beer – with 30% ginger juice, orange, and noticeable heat.
pHenomenal Organic Ginger Syrup is an organic drink syrup from pHenomenal Drinks in Hamburg that allows you to mix your own spicy ginger lemonade. It consists of 30% organic ginger juice, supplemented with organic orange juice and organic agave syrup. Alcohol-free, vegan, 250 ml for twelve long drinks. No chili heat, no refined sugar – the heat comes from the ginger.
The Organic Ginger Syrup from pHenomenal is a concentrate for ginger beer that you mix with sparkling water right in the glass. In English, ginger beer is quite different from ginger ale. Ginger ale is a rather mild, floral lemonade, while ginger beer stands for a drink with clear ginger heat and fruitiness. That is exactly where this syrup comes in. When pHenomenal developed it in 2013, the goal, according to the manufacturer, was: plenty of fresh organic ginger, good heat, and less sweetness. Fermented ginger beer in the old-fashioned homemade style would have been one option. However, that does not fit well with German food law, and fermenting bottles can even burst during transport. That is why Hendrik Schaulin decided on a syrup. It saves bottles and fridge space and lets you determine the intensity of the drink yourself.
Taste
The ginger syrup has a distinct ginger taste, spicy and with notes of orange. Its color is golden yellow, and the aroma features ginger and orange.
Almost a third of the syrup is freshly pressed organic ginger juice. The orange juice rounds off the heat and adds fruitiness to the glass. Spice extracts and a pinch of salt give the syrup depth, while tartaric acid provides a fresh acidity. This heat comes solely from the ginger; pHenomenal deliberately avoids the use of chili tincture.
The syrup is sweetened with organic agave syrup, which is the first ingredient on the list. In its concentrated form, it is therefore both sweet and spicy. Only when mixed with water does the drink emerge that the manufacturer intended: spicy and fruity, but less sweet than many ginger lemonades. You decide how strong it gets based on the ratio of syrup to water. Anyone expecting a gentle, mild ginger lemonade will find the ginger syrup quite potent. In that case, a splash more water helps.
Usage
For a ginger lemonade, mix 2 cl of syrup with 10 cl of sparkling mineral water, a 1:5 ratio. Pour the water into the glass first, then the syrup, and stir gently.
The ratio is a starting point. With a little more water, the drink becomes milder and approaches a ginger ale. With a splash more syrup, it becomes spicier and fruitier. This allows you to mix the perfect strength for any occasion, from an aperitif to a long drink late in the evening. According to the manufacturer, a 250 ml bottle is enough for twelve drinks.
According to the manufacturer, the ginger syrup is primarily intended as a mixer for spirits. It adds savory heat to a long drink without masking the taste of the spirit. The classics are the Moscow Mule with vodka, the Dark & Stormy with rum, and the London Buck with gin.
pHenomenal also recommends the syrup for fruit brandies, such as pear brandy, plum schnapps, or cherry brandy. The fruit of the brandies and the heat of the ginger complement each other well. As an alcohol-free option, the ginger lemonade is a great accompaniment to food. Diluted with hot water, the syrup becomes a ginger infusion for cold days. In the kitchen, you can use it for Asian wok dishes, crumbles, and baking.
Our tip: Place the 2 cl glass dispenser directly onto the bottle. This allows you to pour exactly 2 cl with a flick of the wrist, and the natural cork seals the opened bottle in the fridge.
Origin
The ginger syrup is the second product from pHenomenal Drinks in Hamburg. It was created in 2013, one year after the tonic syrup, out of a love for the Dark & Stormy.
pHenomenal Drinks was founded by Hendrik Schaulin, the owner and developer of the brand. At the end of 2012, he began tinkering with his own tonic together with his friend Peter Hundert. When they were looking for ginger beer for their Dark & Stormy a year later, they were disappointed by what was available. They wanted real ginger taste, real heat, and less sugar. The solution was their own syrup based on fresh organic ginger juice.
The ginger for the syrup is organic ginger from Peru and Uganda. It is freshly pressed in Southern Germany. Instead of citric acid, pHenomenal relies on tartaric acid, which is derived from wine production. The manufacturer uses direct organic juices for fruitiness and acidity. The syrup is handmade in Hamburg and is organic-certified by the eco-inspection body DE-ÖKO-039. pHenomenal Drinks is a member of Slow Food Germany.
Why syrup instead of pre-mixed lemonade? For pHenomenal, it is a matter of conviction. A syrup weighs less than ready-made lemonade, requires less packaging, and causes fewer transport emissions. The recommended 5:1 mixing ratio allows for the use of real ingredients instead of relying on flavorings.
For whom
The ginger syrup is for everyone who really wants to taste ginger. It is suitable for people who enjoy mixing Mules, Bucks, and Dark & Stormys at their home bar.
It is also for everyone who loves fruit brandies and is looking for a new way to drink them. Those avoiding alcohol get a spicy lemonade whose strength they control themselves. And for those with limited fridge space, it’s easier to store one small bottle than many bottles of lemonade. It also works as a gift for hosts, perhaps paired with a bottle of rum or a local fruit brandy. For gin and tonic, there is the Organic Tonic Syrup from the same manufacturer. You can find all syrups, cocktails, and accessories on our pHenomenal Drinks page. The ginger syrup is not suitable for those looking for a mild, floral ginger ale.
Organic ginger, orange, and agave from Hamburg – the ginger syrup from pHenomenal for ginger beer with real heat.
