I have always wondered what “Switchel” was. You read about it in old books or hear it in old movies. Sounds like the old way to get electrolytes after working hard in the field. Now we just buy a “Gatorade”. There are two versions on here and they can be tweaked to fit your own taste.
Some of these drinks were designed in the prohibition era for obvious reasons. There are some interesting terms that may be unfamiliar to today’s cooks. For instance, “Postum” is a coffee alternative that was created by Postum Cereal Company. Cordials are alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages that are usually served after a meal. A “shrub” can refer to two types of drinks, one is a fruit liquor while the other is a cocktail or carbonated beverage. This drink dates back to the American colonial era. Interestingly, it was an excellent drink for rehydrating after working outdoors in the heat.
I will definitely be trying the ginger beer as that is one of my favorite things to drink. I’ve tried homemade ginger ale with some success. This requires a simple syrup as do many of the ales. Lo and behold, there is a “simple sirup” recipe below. Not sure about the ice tea with mint jelly though…
1930 Cocktail
A Delicious Cold Drink
Apricot Cup
Beet Coffee
Beet Juice for Babies
Canton Cup
Ceylon Punch
Cherry Cool
Chocolate Egg Milk Shake
Chocolate Milk Shake
Cider Punch
Coffee Chocolate
Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Currant Cool
Currant Raspberry Tumble
Economical Lemonade
Last Updated on May 29, 2021 by rootie