Switchel Recipes

[Granny Smith]

Switchel originated in the West Indies, and became popular as a summer drink in the American Colonies in the late 1600's. By the 1800's, it had become a tradition to serve it to thirsty farmers at hay harvest time, thus it acquired the alternate name of "haymaker's punch." Recipes below.

HAY TIME SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
1 c. light brown sugar
1 c. apple vinegar
1/2 c. light molasses
1 tbsp. ginger
2 qts. cold water

Preparation :
Combine and stir well. This can be refrigerated, but old timers
made it with cool spring water, and drank it while making hay for a good energy restorer in the hot weather.
----------------------------------
SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
1 c. sugar
1 c. vinegar
1 tbsp. ginger
1 qt. cold water

Preparation :
Stir all ingredients together. Serves 6. Refreshing summertime beverage.
----------------------------------
HAYMAKERS SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
1 gal. water
2 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. vinegar
1 tsp. ginger

Preparation :
This was the standard "switchel" carried to the fields to quench the thirst of crews of haymakers. Maple syrup or boiled cider was sometimes substituted for molasses.
----------------------------------
SWITCHEL-OLD FASHIONED SUMMER DRINK
Ingredients :
1/2 c. honey (more or less to taste)
1/2 c. apple cider vinegar (more or less to taste)
1/2 gallon water

Preparation :
Mix ingredients together, chill and serve cold.
----------------------------------
SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
1/2 c. sugar
Scant 1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 c. vinegar

Preparation :
Place all ingredients into 2 quart pitcher. Add water and ice to fill. This was a favorite drink of a by-gone era, particularly enjoyed by farmers working in dusty fields.
---------------------------------
SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
4 1/2 c. cold water
1 c. vinegar
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. molasses
1 tsp. powdered ginger
2 tsp. syrup (May substitute honey or maple syrup)

Preparation :
Mix all ingredients in large bowl or pitcher. Refrigerate and serve. Serves 6- 8.
Refreshing summer beverage of men haying in the fields.
----------------------------------
SWITCHEL
Ingredients :
1 gal. cider
1 c. vinegar
1 1/2 c. molasses or some molasses, stretched with honey, or
brown sugar
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 c. raw oatmeal

Preparation :
Mix it all up together and chill. The oatmeal settles to the bottom and you can eat it after the Switchel has been finished as a drink.

[demosthenes]

I've been looking up nutritional information, to see if switchel can be used as an oral dehydration solution for Ebola. Apparently, getting fluids down, as much as possible, is the big difference between surviving or dying from Ebola, but the ORS currently used tastes foul.

From what I'm seeing, switchel made with ginger, blackstrap molasses, and cider vinegar will work well if a bit of salt is added. And probably taste a whole lot better than the stuff being used now. Ginger and lemon also have anti-nausea properties.

[Valerie]

I bet it's very refreshing with the vinegar in it.