Stave off the sniffles this winter with a homemade ginger shot. And remember: a little goes a looooooong way.  

When it comes to superstar foods, ginger is in the top ten. Of the laundry list of feel-good benefits?

• Soothing upset stomachs
• Aiding digestion
• Reducing inflammation
• Helping your body recover faster after a workout
• Boosting your immune system

The zippy flavor doesn’t hurt, either.

So it makes sense then, why most grocery stores, cafés, and smoothie shops are lining their shelves with miniature ginger shots. The only problem? They come with a pretty steep price tag. So this season, ditch the store-bought kinds and make your own. Bonus points for the fact that each recipe makes about 10 shots.

Just remember — these are too potent to be sipped. Throw ’em back shot-style, and call it a day.

1. Lemon Ginger Shot

Lemon and ginger is a classic combo that works well as is, but if you need added sweetness to balance the acidity, add a touch of pure maple syrup.

Ingredients:

• 2 Large Knobs (100 Grams) Ginger
• 3 Lemons, juiced
• Maple Syrup (optional), to taste

Instructions:

1. Peel, then chop the ginger. Add to a high-speed blender or juicer with the lemon juice.
2. Puree with maple syrup (if using) until smooth.

2. Turmeric Tangerine Ginger Shot

There’s a reason turmeric is referred to as Indian gold — and when it joins forces with ginger, the result is an immune boosting powerhouse. Black pepper aids the body’s ability to absorb turmeric’s key compound, curcumin, so don’t skip it!

Ingredients:

• 2 Large Knobs (100 Grams) Ginger
• 8 Small Tangerines, juiced
• 3/4 Cup Water
• 1 Teaspoon Turmeric Paste
• Pinch Black Pepper

Instructions:

1. Peel, then chop the ginger. Add to a high-speed blender or juicer with the tangerine juice, water, turmeric paste, and black pepper.
2. Puree until smooth.

3. Apple Cayenne Ginger Shot

Apple for sweetness, lime for tang, and cayenne pepper to subtly — but effectively — wake up those taste buds.

Ingredients:

• 2 Medium Apples
• 2 Large Knobs (100 Grams) Ginger
• 2 Limes, juiced
• 2 Cups Water
• Pinch Cayenne Pepper

Instructions:

1. Core, then roughly dice the apples.
2. Peel, then chop the ginger.
3. Add the apple slices, ginger, lime juice, water, and pinch of cayenne to a high-speed blender or juicer.
4. Puree until no large chunks remain, and strain through a fine-meshed strainer.

For an immune-boosting drink you can actually sip, try these five gorgeous green smoothies.