Switchel
Switchel
By: Jenn Alberts
So, you’re wondering what in the world is a Switchel? Well first of all it’s a homemade drink with a super fun name! I’m just learning about switchel’s and all the benefits. It’s probiotic, it boots immunity, and helps build healthy flora in your gut. Explore with me and see if you like it. From my brief research I can see that switchel’s have been around for some time, often called things like haymaker’s punch, swizzle, ginger-water, switchy or switzel. Wow, that was a mouth full. This is basically a vinegar water that we are making palatable so you want to drink it! It’s MUCH easier than kombucha and has similar benefits.
The key to the probiotic benefits is buying apple cider vinegar WITH the mother. So now you’re asking… “what is mother?”. The mother is basically a healthy bacteria. This is a great article I found explaining it https://enzymedica.com/blogs/ingredient-science/what-is-the-mother-in-apple-cider-vinegar
So far me and my daughter love this particular recipe with the ginger and citrus flavors! I did try a molasses, ginger, and lime version and it’s good but I much prefer the citrus and ginger. I think the really fun part about the switchel is the versatility and experimentation you can try. I’m looking forward to trying different flavors and combos. In this instance I had a few blood oranges that needed to be used and this was a great way to use them up.
Step 1
Put all ingredients in a large jar and fill to the top with water (I used a large size mason jar = 4 cup capacity). Shake! For best flavor refrigerate overnight, but you can certainly drink it right away if you wish.
Step 2
*for a stronger ginger taste you can boil a cup of the water with ginger. COOL. And then add to the jar. This will add a punch of ginger. Be sure to cool the liquid so it doesn’t kill the bacteria in the apple cider vinegar.
Try some different fruit and additions, I tried a lime and molasses one.
Switchel
Ingredients
- 4-5 slices of fresh ginger
- 1 blood orange or sub other citrus
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3-4 cups Water to fill the jar
Video
Notes
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