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Strawberry Ginger Switchel {Easy Ferment + Electrolytes}

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Strawberry Ginger Switchel is a delicious, refreshing, easy-to-make fermented beverage. 

Glass with iced strawberry switchel, fresh strawberries and a mason jar full of the drink.

Have you ever heard of Switchel?

If you’ve never had any, you have to make some!

This naturally sweetened electrolyte drink is super healthy and an extremely simple homemade fermented beverage. It doesn’t use sugar like other fermented drinks, doesn’t need a special scoby {like kombucha does} and it doesn’t have a long fermentation process. How cool is that?!

I first learned about Switchel a while ago when my husband and I were watching some show online. The program was discussing old fashioned vinegar drinks – Switchel and Shrubs.

Switchel is a drink that originated in the Caribbean and later became popular in American Colonies. It was often served to farmers during the summer months.

Strawberry Ginger Switchel in a mason jar and served over ice with fresh strawberries.

Switchel is commonly made with water, apple cider vinegar, a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup or molasses and ginger or lemon. Shrubs are similar in that they use vinegar, but they’re commonly used for finishing or mixing into alcoholic drinks.

After learning more about Switchel, I knew I had to make my own.

This amazing drink quickly became a family favorite. I make up large batches daily so we always have some in the fridge. Because I make Switchel so often, I like to mix up the flavorings using berries, ginger, lemon and sometimes fresh herbs.

Enjoy this thirst-quenching drink! Make sure to make a bunch because you’re going to want to drink all of it. It’s so good!

Strawberry Ginger Switchel served over ice with fresh strawberries.

Strawberry Ginger Switchel

Strawberry Ginger Switchel {Easy Ferment + Electrolytes}

Strawberry Ginger Switchel {Easy Ferment + Electrolytes}

Yield: 8 cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
Strawberry Ginger Switchel is a delicious, refreshing, easy-to-make fermented beverage.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar WITH "The Mother"
  • 1/3 cup raw honey {my preference} or organic maple syrup
  • 1 inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup organic strawberries, sliced
  • Juice of 1 organic lemon
  • 8 cups filtered water

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a large mason jar or pitcher {I use an 8-cup mason jar}. Cover with lid and shake to combine. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

  1. Strain and serve cold or over ice.

Notes

YOU WILL NEED: 8-cup Mason Jar or Large Pitcher

Store in the refrigerator up to 2 days.

Recommended Products

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 77 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 29mg Carbohydrates: 20g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 18g Protein: 0g
This nutritional information was auto-generated based on serving size, number of servings, and typical information for the ingredients listed. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, please calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and amounts used, using your preferred nutrition calculator. Under no circumstances shall the this website and the author be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the given nutritional information. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
© Emily
Cuisine: American / Category: Beverage
Strawberry Ginger Switchel in a mason jar and served over ice with fresh strawberries.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. This looks SO very delicious and ultra refreshing.
    I guess it depends who is teaching ‘the class’ on Switchels and Shrubs..
    In the herb world.. they are totally interchangeable terms.. I make ‘herb-infused’ ones and..
    .. don’t laugh.. call them one or the other.. depending on my mood!
    I acknowledge that the current “cocktail culture” has adopted the ‘shrub’ but
    back in the ol’ days according to my teachers and texts — same recipes apply.
    Hope that’s ok to chime in.. These drinks, whatever, the name.. are FABULOUS!!
    Can’t wait to try the Ginger with Strawberry version above!! Thank you.

    Reply

    • LOL always appreciate your feedback and knowledge. I didn’t know that. I’ve seen there’s other nicknames for Switchel – like switzel, swizzle, ginger-water, haymaker’s punch or switch. I’ve seen Shrubs marketed now as something added to an alcoholic drink. I just looked it up, not the greatest online source LOL – but it’s what I found … “One type of shrub is a fruit liqueur that was popular in 17th and 18th century England, typically made with rum or brandy mixed with sugar and the juice or rinds of citrus fruit. The word “shrub” can also refer to a cocktail or soft drink that was popular during America’s colonial era, made by mixing a vinegared syrup with spirits, water, or carbonated water. The term “shrub” can also be applied to the sweetened vinegar-based syrup, from which the cocktail is made; the syrup is also known as drinking vinegar. Drinking vinegar is often infused with fruit juice, herbs and spices for use in mixed drinks.” ~ Wikipedia

      Reply

  5. I was just hearing about how good fermented foods are and was wanting to get into them more. This looks like a delicious way. Thanks! Pinning!

    Reply

  9. This sounds lovely! Two questions…

    One, what exactly does the fermenting?

    And two, can I use stevia instead of honey? While I love natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup, my blood sugar does not so I use stevia.

    Thanks for this delicious recipe!

    Reply

  10. What a wonderful drink! This is perfect for those super busy summers when I admit, I let my kombucha turn to vinegar. To answer Dawn’s question: I’m sure stevia would be fine. In fact, I use it in a pinch when I’m too inpatient to stir honey well into my drinks. Love this!! Thanks Emily for such a refreshing and healthy drink.

    Reply

    • Yes thank you! I just saw your reply after replying to Emily lol. I thought it probably would be ok, but since it’s fermented…but then usually ferments like water kefir or kombucha take longer and eat up the sugar. Glad to know it works fine!

      Reply

  11. What a wonderful refreshing drink recipe! I will have to try this with our strawberry’s this summer. My water kefir grains have give up on me and this will make a great replacement in a pinch.

    Reply

  15. This looks so good! Thank you so much for sharing a drink recipe where I don’t need to make like 24 servings at once lol That drives me insane and is a large part of the reason I haven’t made anything like this yet.

    Reply

  19. Fermented drinks are so good! My daughter has been drinking apple cider vinegar mixed with water and we didn’t even know there was a special name for it. 🙂 Switchel! I’m off to share on Pinterest.
    Happy Mother’s Day, Emily.

    Reply

  21. I made this and used strawberries and threw in a few blueberries for good measure. At first it tasted a little too vinegary but by the 3rd day it was awesome. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  22. Can’t wait to try this. I can’t make fermented foods because they use too much salt. And the fact that this doesn’t use sugar is fantastic, too! I’ll have to check out more recipes of these. Thanks!

    Reply

  23. After combining all the ingredients, I let it sit at room temperature until there were signs of fermentation (i.e. – bubbling, fruit floating to the top), then refrigerating. Honey has natural anti-bacterial properties and will slow down fermentation, so I feel that refrigerating right away can reduce the amount of beneficial bacteria forming in the beverage.

    Reply

    • Hi Jenn, the way I make it is the traditional way to make Switchel. The “fermented” aspect is because the ACV has “the mother” in it. I know there are other ferments that solely use honey like Jun. I hope it turned out well the way you made it. 🙂

      Reply

  24. This sounds so yummy! I love anything with ginger in it, so your Switchel is on my list of recipes to try this summer.

    I followed a link over from your infused waters post and was really pleased to find not only a recipe but also a little bit of history. Sharing widely 🙂

    Reply

  25. This looks so yummy! Do you know, can I use frozen strawberries…? I picked a bunch during early June when they were in full swing and froze a bunch.

    Also, I’d imagine I could use other fruits… Blackberries would be yummy I’d think 🙂

    Thanks again! Keep on sharing!

    Reply

  26. Dear Emily, where I leave can’t find row ACV with the mother, what I have is filtered AV can I use it instead or can I replace it? Please I wait for your response,Thanks.

    Reply

    • Hi Cris, are you able to find any organic apple cider vinegars where you live? Almost all organic apple cider vinegars are unfiltered. Braggs is pretty easy to find online too. You could use filtered apple cider vinegar, you won’t get the same health benefits from it, but I think it will still taste the same. 🙂

      Reply

      • @Cris T….I live in a very rural area of northern New York, and I find organically produced ACV (with the mother in it) at one of our local farm stands. Farm stands and Farmer’s markets are great places to look for this type of item. It’s great to support local farmers, good for the economy and healthy for you—all in one shot! Good luck! (I’m eager to try this recipe too!)

        Reply

  27. Are switchels mainly non-alcoholic? Does it become a shrub the moment you add alcohol? I was always under the impression both could be made with alcohol! Thank you for sharing this recipe! I definitely want to try it, alcohol or not!

    Reply

    • Yes 🙂 Switchels should traditionally be non-alcoholic because it was given to farmers out in the hot fields to help hydrate them. I would guess it would be a shrub if alcohol is added. I hope you get to try making some! Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting.

      Reply

  28. I’ve still never made a switchel but I’m going to make it my summer goal to do so. This looks so refreshing and I love the flavor combo!

    Reply

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