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How to Make Switchel – The 18th Century Energy Drink

Enjoy this tasty, all-natural energy drink after exercise or hard work.

June 26, 2019 By Mary's Nest Leave a Comment

How to Make Switchel – The 18th Century Energy Drink Recipe

Easy Homemade Energy Drink Switchel Recipe Video
Watch the Switchel – The 18th Century Energy Drink Recipe Video

If you need a tasty, all-natural energy drink, Switchel is the beverage for you! Learn how to make this refreshing 18th-century energy drink that’s perfect for enjoying after exercise or hard work.

*Affiliates note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My videos and blog posts may contain affiliate links to products and services. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll receive a small commission. It does not affect the price you pay.

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A Natural Energy Drink

You can make this Old Fashioned Energy Drink with water, raw apple cider vinegar, molasses, and ginger. This beverage was popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries before high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and sweeteners, and aluminum cans were invented.

Back then, this revitalizing drink was served to workers who spent their days laboring in the hot sun. So you will certainly enjoy quaffing this delicious beverage after working all day in the garden when your body needs more than just water to rehydrate!

Since Switchel (sometimes called Haymaker’s Punch) is homemade, it is inexpensive and delicious. Its effective combination of ingredients replenishes your cells with sodium, potassium, magnesium, and iron to help your body properly rehydrate. And as an added benefit, Switchel also helps with digestion!

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe

To make a refreshing glass of Switchel, you’ll need to have apple cider vinegar on hand. And since raw apple cider vinegar is the best, why not make it homemade? I’ll show you how easy it is to make this vinegar homemade in my step-by-step recipe video series.

How to Make Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother Video
  • How to Make Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother – DIY From Scratch Recipe for Beginners (3 Part Series)

Modern-Day Energy Drink Recipe

Update: In addition to making an old-fashioned Switchel, you can also create a modern-day energy drink with my electrolyte powder recipe video. Turn your homemade powder into a refreshing sports drink or an elegant spa water.

  • How to Make a Homemade Electrolyte Drink

More Beverage Recipes

Now that you’ve learned how to make Switchel, try these other beverages and vinegars that I show you how to make with my tutorial videos.

Tasty Drinking Vinegar Shrub Recipe Video
  • How to Make a Shrub – A Drink From The 1700s
Pineapple Mint Shrub Mocktail Recipe Video
  • How to Make a Pineapple Mint Shrub Mocktail
How to Make a Ginger Bug for Making Probiotic Rich Fermented Drinks Video
  • How to Make a Ginger Bug for Making Probiotic Rich Fermented Drinks
Homemade Fermented Ginger Ale Recipe Video
  • Fermented Ginger Ale Recipe – A Probiotic Rich Homemade Soda for Good Gut Health

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Marys Nest Easy Homemade Energy Drink Switchel Recipe
Print Recipe

Easy Homemade Energy Drink Switchel Recipe

If you need a tasty, all natural energy drink, Switchel is the beverage for you! Learn How to Make Switchel, which is an 18th-century energy drink that's perfect to enjoy after exercise or hard work.
Prep Time5 mins
Total Time5 mins
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: Americana
Keyword: Beverages, Switchel
Servings: 8
Author: Mary’s Nest

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Ginger, ground
  • 1/4 cup Raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup Molasses
  • Filtered water

Instructions

  • Add ginger to a half gallon jar with a small amount of water and mix thoroughly.
  • Add apple cider vinegar and molasses to jar.
  • Fill jar with water.
  • Stir well and serve chilled or over ice.

Video

Notes

To learn how to make homemade Apple Cider Vinegar, visit https://marysnest.com/how-to-make-homemade-apple-cider-vinegar/
Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/switchel-the-18th-century-energy-drink/
Copyright © 2020 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved

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Favorite Supplies for Making Fermented Drinks

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Use my Mockmill affiliate link for a special one-time 5% discount on Mockmill Stone Grain Mill products, including Ancient Grains, like Einkorn, Emmer, and Spelt. (The Mockmill discount will appear when you checkout.)

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Recommended Reading

  • The First American Cookbook: A Facsimile of “American Cookery,” 1796
  • The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy: The Revolutionary 1805 Classic
  • The City Tavern Cookbook: Recipes from the Birthplace of American Cuisine
  • City Tavern Baking and Dessert Cookbook: 200 Years of Authentic American Recipes From Martha Washington’s Chocolate Mousse Cake to Thomas Jefferson’s Sweet Potato Biscuit
  • A Taste of History Cookbook: The Flavors, Places, and People That Shaped American Cuisine
  • Sweet Taste of History: More Than 100 Elegant Dessert Recipes From America’S Earliest Days
  • Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and Diet Dictocrats

**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.

Filed Under: Beverages, Switchel Tagged With: 18th Century Energy Drink, Energy Drink, Sports Drink, Switchel

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