Ginger Water (Switchel) Recipe

[helwen]

Family recipe, but variations exist all over (including at Old Sturbridge Village, btw). The person mixing this may wish to tinker with the proportions, according to taste.


Ginger Water (Switchel)

1 cup Maple Syrup (or honey)
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tsp Ginger

1/2 - 3/4 gallon Water


Basically, put the first three into a pitcher and fill it up with water.


***
This is a very useful drink for hot weather and also for folks exercising a lot. Before there were modern energy/power drinks, there was switchel -- and no added chemicals or artificial colors!

Comments

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

Cool--thanks! (I'd been wondering whether I should try drinking cider vinegar for leg cramps; this would certainly make it go down easier....)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Welcome :)

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Have you had a chance to try this yet? Just curious to see if it worked for you.

[the1butterfly.livejournal.com]

Someone at Pennsic mentioned this to me while we were drinking Gatorade in front of Chaiergeon's (can't spell it) Point. I remember a mention of this in one of the Little House books- Laura's helping out in the fields, and she's reminded that she can't drink too much water, but then it turns out to be ginger water so she can have as much as she wants.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

It really does make a difference :) Gotta get those electrolytes! And ginger is good for helping with being overheated, and helps with blood circulation.

[hyperbard.livejournal.com]

joe_chin also came up with pseudo-gatorade =

lemonade
potato flakes(though I'd guess you could use shaved potato, you'd just need to cook it first)
salt

lol it works about the same as regular gatorade, and is muuuuch cheaper! Though I'm fascinated by the ginger water recipe...

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Interesting, thanks.

Yes, ginger is what saved me when I got overheated at Sommer Draw a few years back. We went off-site -- I was going home to sleep in AC and recover -- and stopped at a Chinese restaurant on the way home. One of the dishes actually said in its description that the ginger was good for blood circulation and overheating, so I had that. By the time I was done eating, my headache was gone and I was feeling measurably better.