Seasonal Drinks
Refreshing Ginger and Honey Switchel Recipe
This sparkling ginger and honey switchel is a vibrant, traditional refreshment that balances the heat of fresh ginger with the floral sweetness of raw honey. Finished with a splash of tangy apple cider vinegar, it’s a perfect harvest-season cooler to serve over ice for a crisp, revitalizing drink.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
- Per serving
- 75 kcal
Method
In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of the filtered water to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the freshly grated ginger. Let it steep for 15 minutes to extract the spice and aromatics.
Strain the ginger-infused water through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large glass pitcher. Press firmly on the ginger solids to extract every drop of liquid, then discard the pulp.
While the liquid is still warm, add the raw honey. Whisk thoroughly until the honey is completely dissolved into the ginger tea.
Pour in the apple cider vinegar, the lemon juice, and the remaining 3 cups of cold filtered water. Stir well to combine.
Chill the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to marry. Serve over plenty of ice in tall glasses.
Notes
For a festive variation, substitute the final 3 cups of water with chilled sparkling mineral water just before serving for a fizzy kick.
If you are looking for a vegan variation, replace the raw honey with an equal amount of pure grade A maple syrup for a deeper, woody sweetness.
The 'mother' in the apple cider vinegar will settle at the bottom, so give the pitcher a quick stir before pouring each glass.
Adjust the amount of ginger based on your preference for heat; a longer steep will result in a much spicier beverage.
