How To Make Switchel
+ 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Drinking This Magical Potion
Long before the
invention of sugary sodas, energy drinks, and vitamin water, there was
switchel. An old-timey beverage to be sure, switchel is many things –
thirst-quenching, refreshing, energizing, healthful – and it has recently
regained some of the limelight it once enjoyed, thanks to both hipsters and
health enthusiasts alike.
While it is believed
to have originated in the hot tropics of the Caribbean, switchel was a popular
refreshment in the American colonies (particularly New England) in the 17th
century. Drank by sailors, laborers, politicians, and university students (who
had a habit of spiking it with rum), switchel was a beverage for everyone
regardless of social or economic status. And it’s easy to see why: switchel is
a concoction that is perfect for combatting long days in sweltering heat,
allowing imbibers to keep cool and stay hydrated. In fact, farmers working the
fields would often guzzle it by the jug, giving it its other name, haymaker’s
punch.
Easy to make,
switchel contains just four basic ingredients: water, vinegar, sweetener, and
ginger. It was a popular alternative to ice water, which was very difficult to
obtain before the age of ice boxes and freezers, and physicians of the era
warned against drinking it because they believed cold drinks on hot days would
cause indigestion. Although it was originally made with vinegar, water, and
either molasses, honey, or maple syrup as a sweetener, eventually ginger was
added to the mix to prevent bloating, allowing people to drink it all day long
without worrying about upsetting their stomachs.
But what does it
taste like? Though on paper the combination may seem strange, switchel strikes
a nice balance between tartness (apple cider vinegar), sweetness (maple syrup),
and spiciness (ginger).
The Benefits of
Drinking Switchel:
Those early American
settlers were certainly on to something when they discovered switchel. They may
not have known then just why this beverage was so revitalizing, but today we
have the benefit of a deeper understanding of human biology and the restorative
power of plant compounds.
1. It Restores
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are
minerals present in bodily fluids, like blood and urine, that carry an
electrical charge. We need these positively or negatively charged ions in our
bodies – they transmit the voltage needed for many physiological functions such
as muscle contractions and nerve signalling.
We lose electrolytes
anytime we exercise, sweat, or go to the bathroom. Most commonly, electrolyte
imbalance occurs during times of dehydration – when we lose fluids through
rigorous physical activity or when we get the flu. The telltale signs of an
electrolyte imbalance include muscle aches, anxiety, headaches, heart
palpitations, stomach cramps, joint pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and
dizziness. But electrolytes can be quickly replenished by consuming things that
contain electrically-charged minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium,
sodium, and chloride.
Because switchel is
made with apple cider vinegar – a rich source of potassium – and pure maple
syrup (which also contains potassium, as well as calcium, magnesium, and
sodium), it’s an all-natural alternative to sugary sports drinks that will help
maintain a good electrolyte balance in the body.
2. It Helps Ease
Pain & Inflammation
It’s no wonder that
farmers toiling all day turned to switchel as their refreshment of choice: it
combats pain and inflammation, allowing them to work just as hard the following
day.
And indeed, switchel
is a wonderful post-workout tonic. The key ingredient here is the presence of
ginger, which not only suppresses pro-inflammatory enzymes associated with the
aches and pains that often accompany intense exercise, it can also help with
other expressions of inflammation like acne, arthritis, eczema, depression, and
the physical signs of aging.
Gingerol – the
active constituent of ginger – is an effective pain-reliever too, which works
just as well as over-the-counter medications used to alleviate pain, but
without any adverse side effects.
3. Get Your Daily
Dose of Apple Cider Vinegar
In addition to
replenishing electrolytes, there’s a lot of good reasons to imbibe apple cider
vinegar! It helps balance the body’s pH levels, keeps blood sugar levels
balanced, aids in digestion by fostering the growth of healthy gut bacteria,
protects the heart, and promotes healthy weight loss.
While taking one
tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water may not be the most
alluring beverage on the planet, switchel offers a tasty way to get your ACV
fix.
4. Enjoy the
Healthful Effects of Ginger
Unless you are
already consuming an ample amount of ginger in your diet, you really don’t want
to miss out on the amazing benefits of eating (or in this case, drinking)
ginger.
Among ginger’s
myriad benefits, it has been shown to help lower cholesterol, improve blood
circulation, reduce blood sugar levels, and ease the symptoms of indigestion
such as heart burn, bloating, and nausea.
Since gingerol has
antioxidant properties, it can help give the brain a boost by improving mental
processing, working memory, attention span, and reaction time.
5. The Hidden
Wonders of Pure Maple Syrup
Although switchel
can be sweetened with raw honey, the time-honored way to make it is with pure
maple syrup. Like other natural sweeteners, real maple syrup is a much
healthier alternative to artificial and refined sugars. As the only product in
our diet that comes from tree sap, maple syrup is quite nutritious, containing
a goodly amount of calcium, manganese, riboflavin, zinc, and potassium.
And because maple
syrup is a plant-based sweetener, it also carries the advantage of a slew of
antioxidants – 63 different types of free radical scavengers in fact, spanning
gallic acid, catechins, and quercetin.
How To Make
Traditional Switchel:
While there are
several drink-manufacturers that have jumped on the switchel bandwagon (replete
with extras like cherry and blueberry flavorings), it’s really easy to make
your own switchel at home with these all-natural ingredients:
1/2 cup of apple
cider vinegar (buy it here)
3 tablespoons of
pure maple syrup (buy it here)
6 ounces of fresh
ginger root
4 cups of water or
club soda
Method:
To
make, grate ginger root (or pass it through a juicer) until you have about ⅓
of a cup. Combine ginger, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and water in a
large container, and stir until the maple syrup has completely dissolved. If
you grated your ginger, the bits will sink to the bottom of the container and
this is perfectly fine. Pour over ice for immediate enjoyment or place the jug
in the fridge and let it steep for 24 hours, stirring again before serving.
Add a modern twist
by including mint leaves and a tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice.
