Limber up with Gimber

Voila! The genuine article.
The smooth glass bottle is a joy to behold and to handle!

 Almost by chance, or at least on a sudden whim, I decided to buy a bottle of Gimber, a product which I had noticed on several retail shelves in Brugge recently. I loved the stylish glass bottle actually and I have always adored ginger so what was not to like? Immediately I tasted it, I loved it; it is a

Garage: where it all began!

concentrated liquid, super either in sparkling cold water or mixed in boiling water or as the base for cocktails. Totally zingy and delicious to drink, so much so, that several friends to whom I recommended it, tried it and felt the same. Considering lockdown and not meeting up as normal, I am quite proud that four friends whom I only meet on Zoom, are now devoted to Gimber too, using it often in lieu of alcohol for cocktails.

I was intrigued as to from where/how this irresistible drink had appeared and have now discovered that it is all the brainchild of one, Dimitri. Apparently, after hitting a rough patch in his life, Dimitri spent almost his last money on a ginger press juicer with which he experimented, eventually hitting the combination of ginger, sugar cane, lemons and

Dimitri, the Ginger Genius at the root of this
Gimber Gig!

 herbs, after experimenting with all kinds of ingredients, amounts and combinations. The experimentation obviously took place in his garage, the traditional site for a budding entrepreneur to work his way towards the light! The fateful day, in November 2017, was when all the ingredients finally fused into an amazingly satisfying drink which stimulated the taste buds but without the necessity of alcohol. Every weekend he topped un the original product of 25 bottles, mainly at first, for himself and his family; then his wife started to serve it in her décor store and Dimitri obligingly produced a little more. Gimber gradually became a modest local success story with stories of devotees driving many kilometres for the privilege of buying a bottle.

Positive vibes on display!

The Gimber website claims that “it wasn’t all sunshine, smiles and soda, but soon positive people with positive vibes started joining the project and together they built up today’s Gimber team.” The rumour is that Belgian long-haul airline pilots now drink Gimber to stay sharp and sober and quenched.. So Gimber is indirectly contributing to successful holidays and business trips, [before and after Covid restrictions of course!] I have a leaflet produced by Gimber giving ideas and details for Gimher cocktails which I intend to send to one of my grandsons; he and his girl, working from their flat for the last year, dress up and make cocktails on a Friday evening for a reward after a long week of work and life indoors! Could well be fertile ground for Gimber persuasion!

And, for a different limbering up! Earlier this week, walking along the Kruisvest, near de Nieuwe Papegaai windmill, quite early one morning, I saw a small group of people on the grass, led by a Chinese teacher, doing Tai Chi. SO evocative of the two months I spent in Beijing when I often saw quite large groups of people early mornings, concentrating on their Tai Chi, usually in a park. This Bruggean small group was mainly young but had the typical relaxed slow aura related to this way of exercising which disarms the spectator into thinking the whole routine is effortless. It isn't. But the charming sight is somehow life-affirming and calming and I imagine it is similar for the serene participants. Great way to greet the day! Positively halcyon.