Switchel
Vegetarian
An old farmhouse thirst-quencher of cider vinegar, fresh ginger and maple syrup or molasses stirred into cold water. Tangy, gingery and lightly sweet.
Switchel is an American cold drink from United States, ready in about 2 hours 5 minutes and made with fresh ginger and apple cider vinegar. It serves 4 and is rated beginner to cook.
No licensed photograph of this dish yet.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Rest
- 2 h
- Total
- 2 h 5 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Beginner
- Calories
- 56
Method
Step 1
Put the grated ginger, cider vinegar (opens in a new tab) and maple syrup (opens in a new tab) in a large jar and stir to combine.
Step 2
Add the cold water (and lemon juice (opens in a new tab) if using), cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, so the ginger infuses.
Step 3
Strain out the ginger, shake well and serve cold, over ice if you like.
How it looks · Photo: Katerina Holmes on Pexels
About this dish
- Origin
- United States · Commonly attributedAssociated with colonial and 19th-century New England farm work; similar vinegar drinks were made in many places.Also popular in CanadaMore food from United States
- Dish
- Snack · Lunch · Cold drinks
- Cooking method
- No-cook
- Taste
- tangy, spicy (chilli heat), sweet, refreshing
- Diet
- Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Low-carbWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
All labels
Vegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Whole-food focused · Paleo-style · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium · DASH-style - Good for
- Make-ahead · Budget-friendly · Portable / lunchbox
- Cook more with
- Fresh ginger · Apple cider vinegar · Maple syrup
Allergens
None of the 14 major allergens appear in the listed ingredients.
Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.
Nutrition
56 kcal per serving
Calculated1 serving ≈ 286 g · recipe makes 4
Where the energy comes from
- Protein 0%
- Carbohydrate 100%
- Fat 0%
| Nutrient | Per serving | Per 100 g* |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 56 kcal | 19 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 13.6 g | 4.8 g |
| Net carbohydrate | 13.6 g | 4.8 g |
| Sugars | 12.1 g | 4.2 g |
| Added sugars | 11.9 g | 4.2 g |
| Fibre | 0 g | 0 g |
| Fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Trans fat | — | — |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 8 mg | 3 mg |
| Salt equivalent | 0 g | 0 g |
Vitamins & minerals per serving
- Potassium
- 58 mg
- Calcium
- 46 mg
- Iron
- 0.1 mg
- Magnesium
- 10 mg
- Vitamin A (RAE)
- 0 µg
- Vitamin C
- 0 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0 µg
- Vitamin B12
- 0 µg
- Folate (DFE)
- 0 µg
How these numbers were made
- Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
- *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
- Optional ingredients are not included: lemon juice, ice.
- “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
- Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.
Good to know
Tips
- The ginger gets stronger the longer it sits — strain it out once it tastes right.
Common mistakes
- Drinking it neat as a 'shot' — it is meant to be diluted; undiluted vinegar is harsh on teeth and throat.
Storage
- Keeps up to 5 days in a sealed jar in the fridge.
Variations
- Sparkling switchel: Make the base with only 300 ml water and top each glass with sparkling water.
Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated
Recipe DNA
How this dish is built
Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.
Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.
Customise in Sip & BlendReviews & corrections
Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.
You might also like
Sekanjabin (Persian mint vinegar drink)
Iranian · 1 h 30 min · 102 kcal · Vegan
BBQ pulled pork
Southern US · 6 h 5 min · 680 kcal
Classic lemonade
American · 43 min · 106 kcal · Vegan
Strawberry lemonade
American · 50 min · 98 kcal · Vegan