Drinks / Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Cool Drinks for Hot Summer Days
Drinking vinegar for its myriad health benefits goes back to ancient Greece, no wait, even further, to 5000 BCE when Babylonians were using date palms to make vinegar. Warriors throughout history have used vinegar mixed with water for strength and energy. Vinegar drinks and vinegar tonics infused with herbs, roots, flowers, you name it, have been around for many centuries.
In New England farmers have been making a drink called 'switchel' to keep them hydrated and ward off heat stroke during the long, hot summer days:
"They drank a quenching beverage that functioned much like modern Gatorade: switchel, also called switzel or haymaker’s punch. It contained water, a sweetener—either molasses, maple syrup, honey or brown sugar—ginger, and cider vinegar. All the ingredients (except water) happen to be sources of potassium—an electrolyte. Molasses is especially high in potassium."
Apple Cider Vinegar is an incredibly medicinal food since it contains several different beneficial acids plus beta-carotene, amino acid, bone building minerals, enzymes, magnesium, potassium, pectin and tannins. No wonder humans have been using this super food since we figured out how to preserve apples in the form of vinegar! Here are my three favorite vinegar drinks, aka, switchels, to help keep you cool and healthy this summer:
Dana's Pomegranate Switchel
Ingredients to make one cup of Switchel concentrate:
- ¼ cup of Fire Cider
- 3 tablespoons fresh ginger juice
- 3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
Shake well to combine all ingredients.
Serve about 2-4 ounces of concentrate over ice, top with soda water to make a pint.
Store leftover Switchel mix in the refrigerator.
Citrus Switchel
Makes 2 servings-
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or Fire Cider
- juice from 1/2 a grapefruit
- 1 1/2 tablespoons, or more to taste, raw, local wildflower honey
- Soda water or plain water
- 2 lime wedges
Combine the first 3 ingredients and makes sure to dissolve all the honey.
Fill two pint glasses with ice and split the switchel mix between the glasses.
Top with soda water and garnish with a lime wedge.
Dr. Earl Mindell's Switchel, from his book 'Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar' which is also where I got some of the information for this blog post.
Makes 2 servings:
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or Fire Cider
- 1 1/2 tablespoons black strap molasses
- 2 cups warmed water (to melt the molasses)
Combine and pour over ice.
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Fires of Hell Cocktail
This cocktail recipe brought to you by The Religion Based on Drinking - a Facebook page that recently shared this arty gem of a poster on our page. It's really getting us in the Halloween spirit, pun intended!
Spicy Yerba Mate Tea
Yerba Mate tea in a traditional gourd with a bombilla.
I have a hot cup of mate tea every morning. I even take it with me when I travel. If you have not had or heard of this sweet plant which has similar health benefits to green tea, you are in for a treat! Here is some information from YerbaTea.com: "There are many health benefits associated with Yerba Mate, gained from its nutritional and chemical compounds:
- a good detoxifier
- produces deeper sleep
- boosts the immune system
- relieves allergies
- increases energy
- possibly reduces the risk of diabetes and hypoglycemia
- relaxes muscles
- burns more calories
- increases mental focus
- improves mood
- possibly increases the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart during exercise
- decreases hunger cravings
- possible prevention of some cancers
- possible reduction of heart attack and stroke
- beneficial to the digestive tract"
Personally, I love the energy boost with out the caffeine crash and of course, the taste! I drink it hot in the cooler months with milk and stevia. In the summer it's yummy on ice with fresh squeezed lemon. And, oh yeah, it's also super bonus good and good for you with a splash of Fire Cider! This serving suggestion is from Dottie’s Coffee Lounge on North St. in beautiful downtown Pittsfield, thanks Jess!
Simply brew mate as usual, add a splash of Fire Cider to hot or cold Maté with a big squeeze of lemon and, if desired, a touch of honey or stevia and drink to your health!