The drink is also often called switchel, ginger water, or hay punch—the latter name derived from its history of consumption by farmers who spent the day outside and needed extra hydration, Sorley explains.

The recipe provided by Sorlie contains electrolytes from sea salt, ginger and lemon, but is free of refined sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Its electrolyte content is comparable to commercial sports drinks. When you crunch the numbers using nutrient facts from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)1, the recipe contains 3,145 milligrams of electrolytes from a combination of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. That makes three servings, so each serving contains 1,048 milligrams of electrolytes. By comparison, Gatorade Gatorlyte—their formula with the highest electrolyte content—contains just 504 milligrams (and that’s just sodium and potassium).

Also, this recipe is delicious and very easy to make in a large batch. The taste is equally sharp and tangy as well as soothing and refreshing. A fresh mint leaf serves as nourishment and adds elegance to the drink. Leave it over ice for a few minutes before drinking so it’s super chilled.

I’ll use it to rehydrate on a hot summer day, after a long workout, or to re-energize after a night out.