Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

This Is The Drink Being Called "The Next Kombucha"

Emma Loewe
Author:
September 22, 2015
Emma Loewe
By Emma Loewe
mbg Contributor
Emma Loewe is the former Sustainability and Health Director at mindbodygreen. She is the author of "Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us" and the co-author of "The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self Care." Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,500 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes.
September 22, 2015

Here at mindbodygreen, we take kombucha pretty seriously. (You should see our office fridge!) So when word got out that another drink was dubbed "the next kombucha," we had to investigate.

Switchel is a refreshing combination of water, apple cider vinegar, ginger and sweetener. There are a few brands on the market today; one of the largest is Up Mountain Switchel — a Brooklyn-based company founded in 2012.

Despite Switchel's recent resurgence, the brew is actually a few centuries old, with humble beginnings as a popular summer drink among colonial farmers. These days, it's marketed as a functional beverage with plenty of antioxidants to balance pH, aid in digestion and boost immune system health.

We sampled two Mason jars of the stuff (that's right, it's often packaged in Mason jars) during a recent editorial meeting to see what the fuss was about. As soon as the first lid was unscrewed, a heavy ginger scent filled the room.

"It's got a lot of ginger, but there's no such thing as too ginger-y in my book," declared one editor. A few of us were put off by its aggressive ginger root flavor and thick, syrupy quality.

The Bottom Line

The drink is pretty good and it gets better as you go. With some carbonation, it had the makings of the next great warm-weather cocktail mixer.

Is it the next kombucha? Probably not. Is it a refreshing summer drink that packs a punch? Sure thing.

Photo courtesy MBG creative

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Mindfulness
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.