Guatemalan Ginger Lemon Cooler

Chinchivir is a cold ginger and lemon drink, typical of Antigua Guatemala, drunk especially during Lent and Holy Week.

It’s a refreshing, spicy drink, valued for the intense kick of ginger combined with the tartness of lemon.

Guatemalan Ginger Lemon Cooler

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• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Beverage
• Cuisine: Guatemalan

Print Recipe

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Ingredients

• 150 g of fresh ginger, grated (about 5.3 oz)
• 6 cups of water
• 1 cup of lemon juice
• 1 cup of sugar
• to taste of ice

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Instructions

1. Boil the ginger, boil the grated ginger in the water for 15 minutes.
2. Rest, remove from heat and let sit for another 20 minutes so the flavor intensifies.
3. Strain, strain the liquid to remove the ginger bits.
4. Sweeten, add the sugar to the strained liquid, while still warm, and stir until dissolved.
5. Add lemon, stir in the lemon juice once the liquid has cooled.
6. Chill, refrigerate.
7. Serve, serve very cold, with ice.

Tips for getting it right

• Grating the ginger instead of chopping it helps extract more flavor during cooking.
• Letting the ginger steep after boiling intensifies the drink’s characteristic spicy flavor.
• Adding the lemon juice once the liquid has cooled preserves its freshness and acidity better.
• It’s a drink traditionally associated with Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala.

Traditional variations

• It’s a typical drink of Antigua Guatemala, drunk especially during Lent and Holy Week.
• Some families adjust the amount of ginger depending on the desired heat level.

How to serve

Chinchivir is served very cold, in a glass, with ice.

It’s a traditional drink of Antigua Guatemala, drunk especially during Lent.

Recommended sides

• None, enjoyed on its own

Did you know?

Chinchivir is a typical drink of Antigua Guatemala, strongly associated with Lent and Holy Week celebrations.

Ginger’s spicy touch sets it apart from other, milder cold drinks from the region.