Coke Boiled with Ginger: Cola and Ginger Warmed in One Small Pot
Two ingredients and one small saucepan: 200cc of regular Coca-Cola and 10g of julienned ginger, brought to a boil, then simmered on low heat for about 5 minutes and drunk while hot.
Thin strands of fresh ginger go into a small pot of cola. The pan goes over the heat until the cola boils, then the heat is turned down and the drink cooks gently for a few more minutes. Coke Boiled with Ginger (薑汁煮可樂) is exactly that: cola warmed together with ginger.
The name appears among the items on the Macao Government Tourism Office's Local Food page. The amounts and method here come from a separate source: a single-serving home recipe titled "Hot Ginger Cola" (ホット生姜コーラー), published on Rakuten Recipe in 2013 by a home cook writing as 中国嫁 (Chugoku Yome). The tourism page shows that the drink is named in Macau's local food context; the recipe shows one concrete way to make it. This article keeps the two apart.
This recipe has not been kitchen-tested by Sekai Gohan. The amounts, order and times below follow the published recipe as written.
Coke Boiled with Ginger and Macau's Local Food Listing
On its Local Food page, the Macao Government Tourism Office lists Coke Boiled with Ginger alongside the city's other local foods. That listing places the drink in the everyday food picture the office presents for Macau. The page does not give a recipe, amounts or an author, so it is not the basis for the method below, and it is not used here to make claims about where the drink began or how widely it is made.
The names you may see vary by source. The tourism office's English page writes "Coke Boiled with Ginger"; the Chinese name is 薑汁煮可樂; and the Japanese recipe this article follows is titled ホット生姜コーラー ("Hot Ginger Cola").
The recipe's author describes themselves in their public profile as Chinese, in their ninth year of life as a homemaker in Japan, and fond of cooking. That is the author's own introduction. It does not say they live in Macau or that they are a professional cook.
Ingredients: 1 Serving, Two Items
Measure the cola to 200cc rather than using a whole can or bottle. Nothing else goes into the pot.
Equipment
- Kitchen knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cup or vessel for the 200cc of cola
- Small saucepan
- Heatproof mug
Choosing the Cola and Ginger
This version uses regular cola, and the photos show regular cola.
Use fresh ginger, cut into julienne strips. Peeling it is up to you.
Do not add lemon, honey, milk, tea, water, sugar, spices, extra ginger or squeezed ginger juice. None of them are part of this recipe.
Method: Five Steps from Julienne to Mug
Watch the pot rather than a clock until the cola boils; after that, simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes.
How It Tastes
The recipe's author says they like the way the heat of the ginger goes with the sweetness of the cola. That is their own comment on their recipe, and it is the only taste description used here.
When Something Seems Unclear: What the Recipe Leaves Open
Because the recipe is short, several questions have no answer in it. Rather than filling those gaps with guesses, this table shows what is set and what is not.
| Question | What the recipe says |
|---|---|
| How high should the heat be at first? | Not specified. Heat until the cola boils |
| How long until it boils? | Not specified. It depends on watching for the boil |
| How long after the boil? | About 5 minutes on low heat |
| Should the ginger be peeled? | Not specified |
| Should the pan be covered? | Not specified |
| Should the ginger be strained out? | Not specified |
| Should it rest before drinking? | Not specified. The recipe says to drink it while hot |
| How much drink does it make? | The final amount is not given. The recipe is for 1 serving |
Variations and Other Versions
The only option the original recipe offers is the type of cola: regular or zero-calorie. This article keeps to regular cola.
Other published hot-cola recipes are different drinks. For example, a Delish Kitchen recipe for hot cola uses 300cc of cola, one slice of ginger and one slice of lemon, simmered on low heat for about 2 minutes after boiling, and finished with lemon on top. That is a separate recipe, and none of its ingredients or times are mixed into this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many servings does this make?
The recipe is written for 1 serving.
What are the ingredients?
Just two: 200cc of Coca-Cola and 10g of ginger. This article uses regular Coca-Cola.
Can I use zero-calorie cola?
The original recipe says either regular or zero-calorie cola can be used. This article and its photos follow the regular version.
How should I cut the ginger?
Into julienne strips. The recipe does not set a width or say whether to peel it.
How long does it cook?
After it boils, simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes. The time to reach a boil is not given. The recipe page shows a total time of about 15 minutes; that is the poster's figure, not a time measured by Sekai Gohan.
Do I strain out the ginger?
The recipe does not say, so this article does not decide it for you.
Can I store or reheat it?
The recipe gives no guidance on storing or reheating. It says only to drink it while hot.
Sources
- 中国嫁 (Chugoku Yome), "ホット生姜コーラー レシピ・作り方" (Hot Ginger Cola), Rakuten Recipe, published 2013-03-02. The basis for the recipe name, the 1-serving amounts of 200cc Coca-Cola and 10g ginger, the note that regular or zero-calorie cola can be used, the method (julienne the ginger, cola into the pot, add the ginger, heat to a boil, simmer on low for about 5 minutes, drink while hot), the page's displayed total time of about 15 minutes, the author's taste comment, and the author's self-introduction. https://recipe.rakuten.co.jp/recipe/1590004610/
- Macao Government Tourism Office, "Local Food - A Taste of Macao's Daily Life." The basis for Coke Boiled with Ginger appearing on the office's Local Food page. Used for regional context only, not for the recipe's amounts, author or origin. https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/dining/taste-of-macao/local-food
- Delish Kitchen, "おいしいドリンクの作り方♪ ホットコーラ" (Hot Cola). A separate recipe with different amounts and steps, cited only as a comparison; it is not the basis for the recipe in this article. https://delishkitchen.tv/recipes/384780738303623496
