Ginger Honey Switchel Recipe

Do you ever find yourself reaching for a glass of cold water after a particularly hot and sweaty garden weeding session and find that water is not quite thirst quenching enough? This Ginger Honey Switchel Recipe is a refreshingly tart, probiotic beverage that is not only thirst quenching, but easy to make with ingredients you may already have at home.

Switchel, which is a traditional drink also known by the names Haymaker Punch and Ginger Water, is made with only a few simple ingredients – ginger, apple cider vinegar, and natural sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, or molasses. Using apple cider that is homemade or contains “the mother” imparts probiotic benefits, while ginger adds a flavor zing, soothes digestion, among other benefits.

2 cups of Water
2 TBSP Ginger, chopped
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (I like this brand and this one.)
1/4 cup Raw Honey
Optional: Juice of 1/2 lime or lemon, herbs to flavor

How to Make Ginger Honey Switchel

1) Place your chopped ginger and water in a pot and bring to a boil on the stove. Turn the heat down to simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow the ginger to steep in the water for another hour.

2) Strain the ginger water through a fine mesh sieve (like this one) and add the honey and apple cider vinegar, stirring briskly to combine the ingredients.

3) Place your Switchel in the refrigerator to cool. Dilute with water to your preferred level of tart!For an added twist of flavor, try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or muddling basil or mint and serving over ice!

4) If you would like to add a bit of carbonation to your Switchel, you can either add some sparkling water, or pour the Switchel into a glass flip top bottle like these, and place the bottle in a safe place overnight to naturally ferment a bit.

*Important Note: Carbonation can build up quickly in the glass bottles and the danger of exploding glass is real. For your safety, place the bottles in a wooden or cardboard box or a cooler overnight, do not forget about your switchel, and “burp” the bottles before bed to release a bit of carbonation.

Ingredients

2 cups of Water
2 TBSP Ginger, chopped
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (I like this brand and this one.)
1/4 cup Raw Honey
Optional: Juice of 1/2 lime or lemon, herbs to flavor

Instructions

Place your chopped ginger and water in a pot and bring to a boil on the stove. Turn the heat down to simmer, and cook for about 20 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow the ginger to steep in the water for another hour.
Strain the ginger water through a fine mesh sieve (like this one) and add the honey and apple cider vinegar, stirring briskly to combine the ingredients.
Place your Switchel in the refrigerator to cool. Dilute with water to your preferred level of tart!For an added twist of flavor, try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or muddling basil or mint and serving over ice!
If you would like to add a bit of carbonation to your Switchel, you can either add some sparkling water, or pour the Switchel into a glass flip top bottlelike these, and place the bottle in a safe place overnight to naturally ferment a bit.

Notes

Carbonation can build up quickly in the glass bottles and the danger of exploding glass is real. For your safety, place the bottles in a wooden or cardboard box or a cooler overnight, do not forget about your switchel, and “burp” the bottles before bed to release a bit of carbonation.

Ginger Honey Switchel Recipe | Homestead Honey (2024)