As an expert sommelier and brewer, I have delved into the world of beverages and have come across the question of whether there is real ginger in Canada Dry ginger ale. Let me share my insights and experiences to provide you with a detailed answer.
To start, it is important to understand the process involved in making Canada Dry ginger ale. The company claims to use real ginger, but there are some aspects that raise skepticism. According to Mark Canofari, a food science professor at Cornell University, Canada Dry does use actual ginger, but the way they process it raises doubts about its nutritional and medicinal benefits.
Instead of directly incorporating ginger into their ginger ale, Canada Dry takes a different approach. They boil the ginger in ethanol, which essentially destroys any nutritional or medicinal properties that ginger possesses. This boiling process is done to create a ginger concentrate. One drop of this concentrate can fill up to 70 cans of Canada Dry ginger ale, and it is worth noting that a drop is only 0.05 ml.
This revelation raises the question of whether the ginger content in Canada Dry ginger ale can truly be considered “real” ginger. While technically there is ginger involved in the production process, the final product may not retain the desired qualities that consumers associate with real ginger.
Personal experiences have also led me to question the authenticity of the ginger in Canada Dry ginger ale. When I have tasted the beverage, I have noticed a lack of the distinct spicy kick and vibrant flavor that fresh ginger imparts. This further supports the notion that the ginger used in Canada Dry may not be as genuine as one would hope.
It is worth mentioning that Canada Dry is not the only brand to face scrutiny regarding the use of real ginger in their products. Many other ginger ale brands have faced similar questions, leading to concerns about the presence of actual ginger and its potential health benefits.
While Canada Dry claims to use real ginger in their ginger ale, the process they employ may compromise the nutritional and medicinal benefits of ginger. Boiling the ginger in ethanol to create a concentrate raises doubts about the authenticity of the ginger content. Personal experiences and the lack of distinct ginger flavors in the beverage further support these doubts. Ultimately, whether the ginger in Canada Dry ginger ale can be considered truly “real” ginger is a matter of interpretation and personal preference.