If you have, here is your gold star.
Perhaps you know it by one of its other names.
Haymaker’s Punch?
Farmer’s Water?
Ginger Water?
Ginger Pop?
Nectar of the weary farmhand?
Yankee Punch?
Yankee Beverage?
Yankee?
Harvest Drink?
No? None of those rings a bell? Me either.
It is believed to have originated in the Caribbean, but New England also claims ownership to its creation. So, if you live in the Northeast, you might have come across this, as it was common in that area in the 1700s and 1800s. Even as far back as the late 1600s. Think of it as their version of Gatorade.
By the various names it went by, you can see that it was used to a great extent by individuals who worked outside, often in the heat. They would have it in a ceramic jug and leave it in the shade—or better yet, a creek—to keep cool.
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| Notice the jug of switchel in the lower right corner. |
It was also used by sailors and whalers. When they were out whaling, they wouldn’t get the switchel until they got the whale.
The US Congress was known to have a bowl of switchel while in session. “On hot days - all summer and spring and often in winter, a great bowl of switchel stood in the middle of the Senate or the House. … Members paused in their great speeches … and going up to the great bowl, dipped deep.”
The Passing Age by Arthur Gray Staples (1924)
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| Congress |
It was also a favorite in the courts of justice.
Laura Ingalls Wilder described a switchel-like drink in her novel 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 until they were not thirsty. Ginger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot."
Herman Melville wrote in his work titled I and My Chimney, "I will give a traveler a cup of switchel, if he wants it; but am I bound to supply him with a sweet taste?"
It consists of water, shredded ginger, vinegar, and a sweetener—usually molasses, maple syrup, or honey.
Did I say vinegar? This does not sound appealing, but workers drank it by the gallons. So, naturally, I had to try it.
One of the old versions from 1800s called for 5 gallons of good water, 1/2 gallon of molasses, 1 quart of vinegar, and 2 ounces of powdered ginger.
Um . . . I don’t think so. That is way too much for little ole me to taste test.
It seems that everyone’s recipe was/is a little different. Some optional ingredients are freshly shredded ginger, nutmeg instead of ginger, salt, a fresh squeezed lemon, lemon zest, and rum—a favorite of sailors and was known to be in Congress’s version. Others used a fruit juice in lieu of the water. I mashed several versions together, pared it way down, and made mine this way.
1/2 tsp ginger
2 Tbsp honey
1.5 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1.5 cups water
I made a second one with brown sugar instead of honey.
Though the early drinkers of this beverage didn’t know it, switchel has several health benefits.
◆ Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory, helping with digestive issues, pain, and skin problems.
◆ Maple syrup and apple cider vinegar help replenish electrolytes.
◆ Apple cider vinegar has healing compounds like potassium, magnesium, and probiotics as well as helps to balance pH levels and detox the body.
◆ Real maple syrup is a great natural sweetener that reportedly doesn’t affect blood sugar levels like cane sugar when used in moderation and includes trace antioxidants and minerals.
“But, Mary, you didn’t tell us how it tasted.”
Like others online, I was surprised that it didn’t taste like swigging straight vinegar. I tasted the sweet honey flavor first then a hint of the vinegar tang at the back of my mouth as it was going down. It wasn’t too bad. However, the brown sugar version wasn’t as good. It was almost flavorless, but still with the hint of the vinegar on the back of my tongue. Maybe I’ll try adding more brown sugar or throwing in some maple syrup. I also like the idea of using juice instead of water.
Though I didn’t find it awesome, I might drink this regularly because of the health benefits.
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| Bottle of Switchel |
THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS SERIES
COURTING HER AMISH HEART (Book 1) ~ A doctor or an Amish wife? Kathleen Yoder can choose to be only one… Practicing medicine means sacrifice—no Amish man wants a doctor for a wife.
COURTING HER SECRET HEART (Book 2) ~ Caught between two worlds… Deborah Miller lives a double life as an Amish woman—and a fashion model! Soon she must choose between the Englischer world of modeling and the Amish man she’s come to love.
COURTING HER PRODIGAL HEART (Book 3) ~ Mother-to-Be’s Amish Homecoming. Pregnant and alone, Dori Bontrager is sure her Amish kin won’t welcome her back into the community—or the child she’s carrying.
https://books2read.com/marydavisbooks
Mary lives in Colorado with her Carolina Dog named Shelby. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. Find her online at: Books2Read Newsletter Blog FB FB Readers Group Amazon GoodReads BookBub
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBGg4Svd8HI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wx1qfcT7KQ
https://www.ruralsprout.com/switchel/
https://www.almanac.com/history-switchel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchel
https://draxe.com/recipes/switchel/
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