Switchel: Old-Fashioned Summer Drink
ADVERTISEMENT
Didn't know this stuff had a name but drank lots of it growing up in an orphanage in Hershey, PA in the 1940s. We all lived on dairy farms and did the work. Hand milked the milk that went into Hershey's chocolate bars.
When haying with loose hay and a loader behind the wagon, the house mothers would make this and the little kids would lug it out to the field in a bucket with a tin dipper with which we all took turns. Sometimes we got this as described, which I liked, sometimes another mix which I didn't - too sour. But both did quench your thirst and we appreciated the break from forking hay for a few minutes.
Those were good days though. The cider was made at the orphanage like most all our food, which we helped to harvest. The molasses came straight from Hershey's sugar plantations in Cuba. Anyone who grew up with that day's real food can hardly stand "supermarket" garbage. There wasn't a fat kid or adult anywhere, except maybe the banker's kids. All kids had chores and all grew up strong, tough and seldom sick. People who grew up like me know that vaccines for some minor thing like measles is flat out insane. You got 'em and got over 'em in a few days and never worried about that ever. Chicken pox was more fun because it was highly catchable so they put us in the hospital in a special ward. I remember the first morning the nurse asked me what I wanted for breakfast. I almost fell down, "You mean I have a choice?!"
Anyway, the switchel was made of clean stuff - well water too - as was all our food and drink. NOTHING had ingredients you couldn't pronounce.
Progress backward for the sake of a buck today. Soda pop is a major cause of sickness now but nobody mentions it. It kills the immune system and destroys the liver. There was no such thing as high fructose corn syrup in switchel.
Thank you for the history lesson. What a treasure. These days we are so out of touch with what's good, true and real. I wish you ran a regular column. It would be a welcome dose of common sense.
So true and thanks for the comment I never had it but I think I have heard of it but no truer words have been spoken in terms of illnesses, sugar and not being able to pronounce what's in our food today. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and giving us a glimpse of reality as most of us know it.
Grama would send "raspberry vinegar" with Grampa when he was picking in the orchards.
It was very refreshing even if warm. I still make it along with other fruit flavours.