Ginger / The Basics
When to take a ginger shot
Morning, evening, before food or after a workout. When you take a ginger shot shapes the ritual more than it shapes the shot. Here's how to pick a time that fits your day and actually sticks.
When's best? Whenever you'll actually take it
There's no single correct time to take a ginger shot. Morning, evening, before a meal or after a workout all work fine and the difference between them is mostly about the ritual you're building rather than the shot itself. The best time is the one you'll stick to.
A few practical things do shift depending on when you drink it: how sharp it feels on your stomach, how it fits around food and how it sits in your day as a habit. If you're planning to make it a regular thing, we've written separately about taking a ginger shot every day. For everything else, here's how to think about each slot.
First thing in the morning
Morning is the most common time and it's easy to see why. A 60ml shot is a small sharp ritual that marks the start of the day before anything else gets in the way. Our Ginger Max has picked up the nickname "nature's espresso", not because it does anything a coffee does, but because that first hit of 30g of cold-pressed ginger has a similar wake-your-mouth-up kick to it. It's a taste and a ritual, not a stimulant.
Some people find neat ginger a lot to take on a completely empty stomach. If that's you, a few sips of water or a bite of breakfast first softens it. More on food in a moment.
Later in the day
Nothing rules out an evening shot. Plenty of people prefer one after dinner, when the warmth of the ginger feels like a full stop on the day rather than a start. If your mornings are chaotic and you'll only forget, evening might be the version of the habit that actually holds.
The one thing worth knowing: ginger has a real warmth and bite to it, so if you're sensitive to anything lively close to bedtime you might prefer it earlier in the evening rather than right before sleep. That's personal preference, not a rule.
Before food, with food or on an empty stomach
This question matters more than the clock. Ginger is sharp. On a completely empty stomach some people love that clean hit and others find it a bit much. For most people there's no harm either way, it's a comfort thing.
If you find it sharp, take it with or just after food, or chase it with water. If you like the intensity, straight up on an empty stomach is fine. Our Gentle Ginger, at 10g of ginger with apple and lemon, is the easier one to take at any time, empty stomach included. As a rule the stronger the shot, the more a little food helps.
Before or after a workout
Some people like a shot around training, usually as part of a routine rather than for any specific effect. Worth being straight about this: the research on ginger and exercise is limited and mixed. A shot is a glass of ingredients, not a supplement or a treatment. If you enjoy one before a session as a ritual, or after as a cool-down habit, that's a perfectly good reason on its own. Just don't expect it to do a job it hasn't been shown to do. Do your own reading and form your own view.
Timing options compared
| When | Why people choose it | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | A sharp ritual to start the day | Can feel intense on an empty stomach, so water or food helps |
| After a meal | Gentler on the stomach, feels like a full stop | Any meal works, not just dinner |
| Evening | Fits the day better if mornings are rushed | Some prefer it earlier if they're sensitive before bed |
| Around a workout | Part of a training routine | Research is limited, so treat it as ritual not a fix |
Pick a time and let it stick
The timing debate matters less than consistency. Choose the slot you'll remember (most people land on first thing in the morning or straight after a meal) and let it become automatic. If you're building it into a daily habit, our guide to taking a ginger shot every day covers how to keep it sensible, including the note about ginger and blood-thinning medication that's worth a quick word with your GP if it applies to you.
On queasy days some people reach for ginger whenever the queasiness hits rather than on a schedule. That's the occasion driving the timing rather than the clock. We've written more about that on our juices for nausea page. Whichever slot you choose, all our cold-pressed shots are frozen fresh and thaw ready to drink, so the timing is entirely yours.
Shots for any time of day
Whatever slot you settle on, here's the range to choose from (or browse all our ginger guides):
Frequently Asked
Is there a best time to take a ginger shot?
No. Morning, evening, before or after food all work fine. The best time is simply the one you'll remember to do. Most people settle on first thing in the morning or straight after a meal because those slots are easy to build a habit around.
Should I take it on an empty stomach?
You can. Some people prefer the clean hit. Ginger is sharp though, so if it feels like too much on an empty stomach, take it with or just after food, or chase it with water. The Gentle Ginger at 10g is the easiest one to take any time.
Can I take a ginger shot at night?
Yes. An after-dinner shot suits plenty of people. Ginger has a lively warmth to it, so if you're sensitive to that close to bedtime you might prefer it earlier in the evening. It's down to personal preference.
Is it better before or after a workout?
Either, if you enjoy it as part of your routine. Be aware that the research on ginger and exercise is limited, so treat a shot around training as a ritual you like rather than something that does a specific job. A shot is a glass of ingredients, not a supplement.
Can I take a ginger shot when I'm pregnant?
Ginger is a common kitchen food, but pregnancy is exactly the time to check with your GP or midwife before adding anything regularly and to form your own view. A ginger shot is a food, not a treatment, so please don't rely on it as one. If queasiness is the reason you're asking, our juices for nausea page has more.
Does the time of day change how strong it feels?
Mostly it changes how it feels rather than how strong it is. The same shot can feel sharper on an empty stomach first thing and mellower after a meal. If you want a bigger hit, that's more about the shot you pick than the hour. Our Gentle Ginger vs Ginger Max comparison walks through the strengths.
The bottom line
Stop overthinking the clock. A ginger shot works whenever you'll actually take it, so pick the slot that fits your day, mind the empty-stomach sharpness if you're sensitive to it and let the habit settle. If you want to try a few times and strengths to see what suits, our cold-pressed juice shots are frozen fresh and delivered ready to thaw, so the moment is always yours to choose.
Where to buy
Browse the full cold-pressed juice shots range, or go straight to a favourite: Gentle Ginger, Ginger Max, Ginger Beets, Ginger Greens or the Juice Shot Variety Box.
Related reading
- Cold-pressed ginger shots: the benefits
- What's actually in a ginger shot
- How much ginger is in a shot
- Gentle Ginger vs Ginger Max
- Can you take a ginger shot every day?
- Ginger shots for energy
- Ginger shots for digestion after 45
- The best juices for nausea relief
- Ginger Beets: why ginger pairs with beetroot
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