Morning rituals are so important. How you start your day is often what sets the tone for the entire day so it’s nice to have some standards in place that get you off to a great start!
For me, that means: meditation (even just 5 minutes), hot lemon water (sometimes cold if I’m in a hurry), and hot green tea. When I’m operating on these three cylinders, the morning somehow seems to run a lot smoother.
I recently came across an article on a potent concoction that sounded like the perfect thing to slip into my morning routine, SO… I’m switching it up a little with this old-timey beverage… Switchel.
It’s a mash-up of a sweetener, sour vinegar, spicy ginger and water.
This concoction is nothing new, in fact it’s been around since Colonial times and was used by farmers to stay hydrated, often referred to as “Haymaker’s Punch.”
It’s very hydrating, but also energizing. You can think of it as nature’s Gatorade. Together these ingredients can restore electrolytes, boost immunity and aid in digestion.
The great thing is you can really make this your own drink by playing around with the measurements and replacing OR omitting certain ingredients; change out the sweetener, add in a little cayenne pepper for a kick, lots of possibilities with this punch.
This is how the basic recipe looks in the Farmer’s Almanac.
Almanac recipe:
1 gallon water
1 ½ cups molasses
⅓ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (ground)
An updated version I found used apple cider vinegar, pure maple syrup, fresh ginger root and water.
Apple cider vinegar is a *must* in the morning. It’s great for digestion and eliminating the bad bacteria in the gut, a metabolic booster and a natural appetite suppressant. It’s also loaded with potassium and enzymes which are energy boosters. (My husband and I will take a shot of just this in the mornings, it totally works!)
Fresh ginger root is an important element as well. It can help awaken your senses in the morning and soothe your stomach. When you add in mineral-rich grade-b maple syrup, you have a drink that is anti-inflammatory, probiotic and a natural detoxifier. The perfect way to start the day.
You just mix everything together in a sealed container, close the lid and pop it in the fridge for 24 hours.
The next day, strain it through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.
Take A PORTION of the switchel and mix it with filtered cold water or soda water and… consume! Super easy to make and so incredibly good.
The maple syrup really cuts through the sourness of the vinegar. It actually tastes a lot like lemonade, just a little more on the tangy side. I definitely felt a jolt after drinking it too. I felt more awake and energized for sure.
The next time I make this, I may cut down the syrup amount to 1/4 cup, just to limit my daily sugar, but overall it’s a win!
Here’s what you’ll need for this modern-day version of Switchel:
Switchel Energy Drink Ingredients:
1 c. unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. grade b maple syrup
1/2 c. unfiltered water
4″ fresh ginger (4 Tbsp)
~Makes 8 servings (one serving is 1/4 cup switchel + 3/4 cup water = 8 oz.)
~Double the recipe to make a larger batch, or cut in half for a smaller batch.
Directions:
- Peel skin off ginger using a vegetable peeler or knife, then grate ginger or chop finely.
- Mix vinegar, syrup, water and ginger in a container and seal.
- Place sealed container in fridge for 24 hours.
- Strain switchel through a cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and discard ginger. If you don’t have cheesecloth just use a slotted spoon and scoop out ginger.
- Take 1/4 cup of the switchel and mix it with 3/4 cup of cold water or sparkling water. Drink first thing in the morning, or on an empty stomach throughout the day. One drink equals 1 cup (8oz.)
*Notes~
*You could use raw honey for the sweetener if you’re not vegan. Raw coconut nectar or grade A maple syrup are both good and low on the glycemic index (which means it won’t spike insulin levels). Grade B syrup is not as sweet, so if you want a sweeter batch, try another sweetener.
*You could also eliminate the sweetener all together and add cayenne pepper to make it more like the Master Cleanse/Lemonade Diet.
*Save your discarded ginger from this drink and make a salad dressing. My go-to is: ginger, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, garlic and a splash of olive oil.
