With all the hard work goings on at the urban homestead these days (shed building, animal enclosure improvements, raising up the raised beds, etc, etc) – water just doesn’t cut it. I mean one needs a good thirst quencher and we don’t mean that colored stuff in the markets.
So in addition to the lemon verbena flavored home brewed kombucha (which taste almost like soda pop) there’s the good old fashion “Haymakers Punch’ (or Switchel”) an easy vinegar molasses/like ginger drink. A drink that’s been quenching the thirst of farmers for many a century – even Pa Ingalls enjoyed this beverage in THE LONG WINTER.
The Original Gatorade – an electrolyte laden drink originating in the 1600’s in the West Indies.
http://www.artofdrink.com/2009/06/haymakers-punch-switchel.php
Comments(7)
Painchaud says:
September 17, 2009 at 6:17 pmI don’t even bother drinking water on a hard working day. I just drink lots of mango/orange juice (but I’m buying it….)
Chris says:
September 17, 2009 at 6:40 pmHi Anais,
Looks like you all are still very busy 🙂 I am in the final stages of making some fermented non alcoholic ginger beer and some blueberry soda. Hope to get a note out to you soon.
,Chris
Jill says:
September 18, 2009 at 10:09 amI’d like to know where you get your vinegar and molasses since it looks like you’re just reusing old containers to store it. I’d love to find a way to just refill old bottles to avoid having to recycle them.
Angela says:
September 20, 2009 at 9:23 amIt’s good with local honey, too, instead of the molasses. My daughter thinks it tastes like lemonade.
James says:
September 23, 2009 at 3:26 pmI tried it. It takes a while to get used to, but it has grown on me. Thanks for the suggestion.
I think I’ll try it with honey, making honegar next time.
AROUND THE URBAN HOMESTEAD | Little Homestead in the City says:
September 25, 2009 at 3:32 pm[…] the extreme heat – we’ve been drinking gallons of switchel. Also made a batch of fermented lemonade […]
theresa says:
September 16, 2012 at 6:23 pmI haven’t heard anyone mention this in so many years. In the late 70’s when my husband and I and our 2 sons were trying to go back to the land our neighbor made this in the summer except she used honey and it was wonderful, I loved it and I haven’t had it since then! I need to make some again. Thank you for the reminder!