Ginger and Turmeric Switchel with Lemon and Chilli

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Complex layers of sweet, spicy and acidic flavours define this fabulous and intriguing drink. It is rich with ginger, balanced with turmeric, zapped by zingy lemon and hot chilli, sweetened with maple syrup, and finished with a kick from apple cider vinegar. Delicious at any time of the day, this is my ‘go-to’ when I’m looking for a non-alcoholic aperitif. It is not a cordial, this is a sipping drink to wake up your taste buds.

What is a switchel?

This recipe is based on a classic switchel. Switchels are associated with the pioneer colonial farmers in 17th century US, New England to be precise. It is a thirst quenching drink made from ginger, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, molasses and water. By the end of the 19th century, it was the drink of choice for farmers harvesting in the fields and acquired the nickname ‘haymaker’s punch’. Bringing it into the 21st century, I have added some fresh turmeric and chilli flakes. Historically this is not a sparkling drink, but my favourite way to serve it is over ice and with sparkling water.

What are the health benefits of this drink?

There is a lot more to the ingredients in this drink than their aromatic and culinary attributes. They are health food powerhouses in their own right and many have been widely recognised for their medicinal properties for centuries.

Ginger and turmeric:

Some of the most widely publicised benefits of ginger and turmeric include:

• helping to fight viruses by increasing antibodies,
• soothing mild nausea and sickness,
• having anti-oxidant properties that help the body combat inflammation, as well as reducing bloating and improving gut health and digestion.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Furthermore, apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for healing wounds, stomach aches and coughs for thousands of years. Whilst more robust studies need to be carried out, apple cider vinegar is often associated with its properties to aid:

• digestion,
• heart health,
• weight loss,
• insulin levels,
• lowering cholesterol.

Maple Syrup:

I add a small amount of maple syrup to the drink purely as a sweetener, as opposed to worrying about any additional health benefits. However, rather fortuitously, it provides a very natural, unprocessed sweetness which has a slightly better glycaemic profile than white sugar, which in turn has slightly less impact on your blood sugar. It can be replaced with honey, if you prefer.

Lemon:

There is a lot of evidence available about the benefits of lemons and many of these benefits echo those above, specifically around digestive issues and weight loss. However, on top of these, lemons:

• are a wonderful source of vitamin C, and
• help the body absorb iron from other food sources and therefore helps protect against anaemia.

How to make Ginger and Turmeric Switchel with Lemon and Chilli

Collect the ingredients together:

• fresh ginger, no need to peel
• fresh turmeric, no need to peel
• lemon peel, removed with a potato peeler
• chilli flakes, to taste. The spiciness of chilli flakes varies, so the amount you use will depend both on your chilli flakes and personal preference. If you like a slightly smokey flavour, use ancho chilli flakes. Alternatively, leave them out altogether, you will still get a lot of warmth from the ginger.
• freshly ground black pepper. This is important to help the body absorb the curcumin in turmeric.
• water
• maple syrup or runny honey
• lemon juice
• apple cider vinegar

How to make this wonderful drink:

1. Use a mandolin to thinly slice the fresh ginger and turmeric. Alternatively blitz in a food processor. Place in a saucepan with the lemon zest, chilli flakes, black pepper and water.
2. Bring to the boil over a moderate heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside for at least an hour for the flavours to infuse.
3. Strain through a fine sieve and discard the ginger mix. Strain again through a muslin cloth and then add the maple syrup/honey, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar.
4. Transfer to a sterilised bottle and store in the fridge.
5. This drink has a tendency to separate when you store it. Be sure to shake well and serve it over ice with (sparkling) water, to taste, a slice of lemon and ginger and some herbs. I like Thai basil or fresh mint leaves.

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Made this recipe?

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