Switchel: Ginger, Maple and Cider Vinegar Cooler
Inspired by techniques from America's Test Kitchen.
A tangy, gingery old-fashioned farm cooler of cider vinegar sweetened with maple syrup, with a little oats for body, steeped overnight and served over ice.
Always check the labels of the products you use.
Method
- 1
Infuse. Put the water, grated ginger, oats and lemon zest in a large saucepan and bring just to a simmer over medium-high heat. Take it off the heat as soon as the first bubbles appear.
- 2
Season. Stir in the maple syrup, cider vinegar and salt until dissolved, then leave until cool.
- 3
Chill. Pour into a jug or jar, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours. The ginger heat builds the longer it sits, while the oats give the drink a soft, rounded body.
- 4
Strain and serve. Pour through a fine sieve, pressing on the solids, then serve over ice with lemon slices.
Storage
Keep covered in the fridge for up to 4 days after straining. Stir before pouring. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).
EU nutrition claims
- Low fat: 0.1 g fat per 100 ml (limit ≤ 1.5 g)
- Low saturated fat: 0 g saturated fat per 100 ml, 0% of energy (limits ≤ 0.75 g and ≤ 10%)
- Low salt: 0.12 g salt per 100 ml (limit ≤ 0.3 g)
Per 100 ml of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 152 ml a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide
Free sugars
12.1 g per serving
24.2 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 48.4 % of the ideal 25 g
Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO
Equipment
- large saucepan
- fine-mesh sieve
- 2000 ml jug or jar with lid
- grater
Nutrition per serving (estimated values)
| Per serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 60 kcal |
| Protein | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 14.2 g |
| of which sugars | 12.2 g |
| of which free sugars | 12.1 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g |
| of which saturates | 0 g |
| Fibre | 0.1 g |
| Salt | 0.19 g |
Protein per 100 kcal
0.2 g High Protein needs ≥ 5 g (20% of energy)
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values
