I work outside for my job, and given the heat in summer here, which can get over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, I was looking for a good drink to use as a sports drink. I've tried Gatorade, but it bothers my stomach for some reason. Enter Switchel, or Swishel, which sounds like some backwoods alcohol, but I assure you its not. Haha. Though people often added alcohol to it. The(American) founding fathers loved adding Jamaican rum in particular. Switchel was especially popular in New England, where people guzzled it during the hay harvest(where another of its names "Haymakers Punch" comes from). Basically it filled the same role as a modern day sports drink.

It's very easy to make, and tastes similar to Apple Cider. The main ingredients are Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger, and some kind of sweetener, usually Molasses or Maple Syrup(I used Maple Syrup). Sounds like a disgusting combo, but its actually pretty good. There are many different recipes, and its a very flexible versatile drink. I've been adding Cinnamon to mine, first as a powder, but I figured out full sticks work way better. You just mix this stuff together and let it cool in the fridge though. Super easy. No cooking, nothing.

Mainly the appeal to me was a sweetened drink that wouldn't inflame my stomach, which is very sensitive to highly processed sweet foods. The Ginger is meant to calm the stomach. I believe the Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to as well. A bonus is all these ingredients are good for you. And it will give you energy on a hot day.