Before sports drinks existed, hayfield crews drank switchel: water sharpened with apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, and a little maple syrup, plus a pinch of salt to put back what they sweated out. This version keeps the 19th-century formula and upgrades the salt. Two sticks of Raw Unflavored dissolve clear into the pitcher, so every 32 ounces carries a full serving of electrolytes, 800mg sodium, 240mg potassium, and 60mg magnesium, with a light seasoning of salt that deepens the ginger and vinegar.
Ingredients
Makes one half-gallon pitcher, about four 16-oz glasses.
- 2 stick packs Saltivate Raw Unflavored
- 7 cups (1.7 L) cold water
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) maple syrup
- 3 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated (about a 3-inch piece)
- Ice and lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Add the apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and grated ginger to a half-gallon pitcher. Stir until the syrup dissolves.
- Pour in 7 cups (1.7 L) of cold water.
- Add 2 sticks of Raw Unflavored and stir for about 30 seconds, until fully dissolved.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours so the ginger can steep. Overnight is even better.
- Strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a clear drink, or give it a stir and pour it cloudy, ginger bits and all. Serve over ice with a lemon slice if you like.
Serving suggestions and variations
- Molasses is the most traditional sweetener; swap it in 1:1 for the maple syrup for a darker, rounder pitcher. Honey works too.
- Switchel keeps about 5 days covered in the fridge. The ginger keeps steeping, so strain it out after the first day if you prefer a milder bite.
- Each 16-oz glass holds half a Saltivate serving, about 400mg of sodium. Drinking it by the pint after sweaty work is exactly how the original was used.
Per serving: about 30 kcal (estimate).
Ratings and reviews
★★★★★5.0 from 1 rating
★★★★★
Max ·
Rated 5 out of 5.
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