Found this on a friend's FaceBook feed today. ==================
Spring also brings flowers. And pollen. And if you suffer at all from allergies, you’ll want to know about switchel. Also known as Harvest Drink, Harvest Beer, Swanky, Haymakers Punch, and a host of other aliases, switchel is a refreshing beverage that has been fortifying the American immune system since at least the founding of this nation.
This is a remarkably refreshing beverage that I would easily make any time of the year. The vinegar and the ginger give it a nice bite, while the molasses keeps it from being overpowering.
I can see the centuries-old appeal of switchel. You don’t need to heat anything. You’re using ingredients that don’t need to be prepared. It comes together quickly and can be stored for a decent amount of time.
The variations on switchel can be plentiful. Let your imagination guide you and once you’ve tried it on its own, play with it. Remember that each household made it to their own tastes.
Harvest Drink. Mix with five gallons of good water, half a gallon of molasses, one quart of vinegar, and two ounces of powdered ginger. This will make not only a very pleasant beverage, but one highly invigorating and healthful.
Reduced Adaptation: 5 cups of cold water ½ cup of blackstrap molasses ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar (preferably raw, unfiltered) 3 tablespoons ground ginger
Mix ingredients thoroughly. Store in jars, jugs or bottles. Shake before serving. Serve cold.
From Practical American Cookery and Domestic Economy, Elizabeth Hall (Miller, Orton & Co: New York, 1853) [Link to 1860 edition]
Full article here: http://www.americantable.org/2014/05/recipe-switchel-1853/