Switchel
Drink containing vinegar and ginger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Switchel, switzel, swizzle, switchy, ginger-water, or haymaker's punch (of uncertain etymology, but possibly related to "sweet"), is a drink made from water mixed with vinegar and often seasoned with ginger. It is typically sweetened with molasses, although honey, sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup may also be used.[1] In the U.S. state of Vermont, oatmeal and lemon juice were sometimes added to the beverage.
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| Origin | British America, New England or the Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 17th century |
Origins
Switchel is believed to have originated in the Caribbean, although New England also claims credit for its creation. It became a popular summer drink in the American Colonies in the late 17th century. By the 19th century, it was a traditional drink served to thirsty farmers during hay harvests, earning it the nickname "haymaker’s punch."[2] Herman Melville wrote in I and My Chimney, "I will give a traveler a cup of switchel, if he wants it; but am I bound to supply him with a sweet taste?"[3] In The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder describes a switchel-like beverage her mother sent for her and her father to drink while haying: "Ma had sent them ginger-water. She had sweetened the cool well-water with sugar, flavored it with vinegar, and put in plenty of ginger to warm their stomachs so they could drink until they were not thirsty. Ginger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot."
Modern recommendations
In his 1958 book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health, the Vermont physician D. C. Jarvis recommended a similar drink, a mixture of honey and cider vinegar, which he called "honegar."[4]
Contemporary popularity
Switchel is experiencing renewed interest and has become a steadily growing category in the ready-to-drink beverage industry. As of 2015, several companies produce and distribute switchel beverages throughout the U.S., and Canada has two commercial switchel producers.[citation needed]
Usage with alcohol
Switchel was sometimes mixed with rum, especially at sea,[5] and it was served in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it was "flavored with the finest Jamaica rum."[6]
