## Molasses Switchel

This recipe is originally from the book *Homemade Root Beer, Soda & Pop*
by Stephen Cresswell. He had this to say about switchel:

> While many harvest drinks relied on fruit juices, switchel
> was a spicy, vinegary drink without fruit juice. It proved
> unusually thirst-quenching, and aided in digestion after the
> heavy harvest meals. The switchel served durring the work harvest
> was nonalcoholic, meaning that the harvest hands could successfully
> negotiate the evening dance that followed the elaborate picnic, or
> "supper on the ground." Although this switchel recipe is noncarbonated
> as well as nonalcoholic, the recipe may be modified to create a
> carbonated drink, or a beer or wine type alcoholic beverage if desired.

I nabbed this lovely recipe from hal3000.cx, who had this to say
about the recipe:

> Tried a batch of noncarbonated switchel and loved it!
> Fast and easy to make, tastes along the lines of an iced-tea
> with lemon and sugar.

When I posted this in my old [SDF.org](https://sdf.org)
[gopher hole](gopher://gopher://sdf.org:70/1/users/wt/Recipes)
I added my own reaction to this odd drink:

> It's surprisingly delicious. Don't skimp on the ginger, extra's ok.
> I do love ginger.

## Ingredients

- 3 to 4 quarts water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup light molasses
- 2 oz fresh grated gingerroot

1. Combine 1 quart water, the vinegar, sugar, molasses, and
gingerroot and simmer for 15 minutes uncovered. Remove from
heat, cover, and allow to cool for 30 minutes.
2. Pour slowly into a glass jug containing 2 1/2 quarts water.
Top off with water to make 1 gallon.
3. *For a traditional noncarbonated switchel*: Chill immediately
Bottling and capping is optional.
4. *For a carbonated drink*: Place 1/8 teaspoon granulated ale
yeast into a teacup containing 1/4 cup lukewarm water and allow
to rehydrate a few minutes. After verifying that the temperature
in the jug is not hotter than lukewarm, add yeast water to the
jug, cap, and invert to mix contents. Bottle, then store the
bottles in a dark place. Check carbonation after 48 hours and
again after 72 hours. When carbonation is right, refrigerate.
5. *for a wine type switchel*: follow the carbonated drink but
ferment instead of bottle.
6. *for a beer type switchel*: ferment then cap after adding
more yeast when the desired fermentation has occured.