Inside: Have you heard of switchel? An old-fashioned Gatorade with its roots in seventeenth century New England. A fermented drink that has become a favorite among the hipster crowd, switchel is easy to make and a refreshing way to beat rising temperatures.
What is Switchel?
Switchel, aka switzel, ginger-water, switchy, or haymaker’s punch, is a beverage with it’s roots in New England–or possibly the Caribbean depending on whom you believe. In it’s classic form, switchel is very simply made–water, vinegar, ginger sweetened traditionally with maple syrup or molasses. By the late seventeenth century, the drink gained popularity in the American Colonies during the summertime, and by the 1800s it became the go-to thirst quencher for farmers in the hay field–thus the name haymaker’s punch.
Herman Melville wrote about it in I and My Chimney, “I will give a traveler a cup of switchel, if he want it; but am I bound to supply him with a sweet taste?” And Laura Ingalls Wilder reminisced about a type of switchel beverage in The Long Winter: “Ma had sent them ginger-water. She had sweetened the cool well-water with sugar, flavored it with vinegar, and put in plenty of ginger to warm their stomachs so they could drink till they were not thirsty. Ginger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot.”
So with all that wonderful farming and literary history, I decided to make up a batch. For my first attempt, I followed the classic recipe, using real maple syrup. I tasted it freshly made, and what surprised me was how tame it was. I had been expecting the apple cider vinegar to overpower the drink, and it didn’t. If anything, the ginger seemed to be more prominent. I sampled it again at 12 hours and then at 24. Not much difference to me.
I gave Mom a jelly jar full of the concoction when she stopped by, and later she told me she had thought it just okay. My sentiments exactly. Then I remembered from my research some recipes called for lemon juice–and oatmeal, believe it or not. I added lemon juice to a new batch–held the oatmeal–and sweetened it with a stevia blend instead. I also sliced the ginger rather than grating it. Our foremothers, masters of make-do, stirred up their switchel with powdered ginger instead.
Eureka! Beverage success! So I texted Mom and invited her over for a glass of switchel. In the cool of the day, we sat around my outdoor table, transported to a bygone era when people gathered on porches to visit. We passed the afternoon that way, sipping switchel and talking as evening settled in around us.
“Refreshing,” Mom pronounced the new version. I agreed.
Since then I’ve made a couple more pitchers of switchel–and even paired it with green tea for my own switchel iced tea. I also tried molasses as a sweetener and found it changed the flavor completely. The molasses version has an earthy, deep taste, and if you’re a fan of molasses, you might like it. My suggestion is to make the classic version with maple syrup, give it a taste, and then experiment with different sweeteners–honey, sugar, brown sugar, stevia blend–and other ingredients. One website suggested cinnamon sticks instead of ginger to give it more of a cider vibe.
By the way, if you’re looking for health benefits, switchel is the drink for you. Ginger, a key ingredient in switchel, naturally reduces inflammation as well as aides digestion by settling upset stomachs. Ginger also fights off disease and breaks down toxins in the body, helping to boost immunity. Apple cider vinegar has many wonderful benefits, among them potassium, magnesium, and probiotics. Both the maple syrup and cider vinegar have potassium-rich electrolytes, which explains switchel’s popularity as a summertime drink. If you happen to sweeten your batch with honey, make sure it’s raw. Raw honey boasts 22 amino acids, 27 minerals, and 5,000 enzymes.
Here’s the classic version:
Classic Switchel
- 4 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (preferably with the mother)
- 4 tablespoons of 100% pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger (additional ginger slices optional)
- 4 cups of water
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve over ice immediately or wait 12 – 24 hours for flavors to blend. Stir each time before serving.
Here is the recipe to my switchel:
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (preferably with the mother)
- 2 tablespoons of Truvia or other stevia blend
- 3 tablespoons juice of a lemon
- 3 - 4 thin slices of ginger (approximately ⅛ inch)
- 4 cups of water
- Combine all ingredients and mix well.
- Stir each time before serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes: For a refreshing iced tea, mix one part sweetened iced tea with one part switchel for a fruity drink. I’ve been mixing up a batch of green tea switchel lately.
Give switchel a try this summer and make the recipe your own! Then you can experience a little “Little House” yourself, just like Laura Ingalls Wilder.
What’s your go-to beverage during hot summer days? Tell us about it in the comments.
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