Middle Earth Ranger Forum

I was watching the Metatron's channel a while ago and he mentioned posca as like a Roman Gatorade. He mentioned, while there are no known recipes, that it was usually made by either watering down wine or wine vinegar with some herbs added. While I was preparing my waterskin for my trek before last, I couldn't help noticing the bottles of wine we had close by. I got a crazy idea and added some cab sau to my skin. While out on the trail, the taste did make things a little easier to drink. Not that I ever had any problems drinking water, but it made it easier to go down. I also noticed I seemed to have a little more endurance. Can't quite explain that one; either my stamina is returning or the posca did something. I tried it on my last trek too and the results were the same. I found a better recipe online and I'm going to try that one out with things like honey and coriander added. I'll keep you posted on how that one goes.

I have heard about cordials some carry for energy. Are those similar? Does anyone have any experience or stories? Recipes? Maybe just a beverage while patrolling thread?

I did red wine vinegar mixed with water for a few days at the fire station, and it honestly felt like it did hydrate me fairly well, just make sure you get the mixture right so it isn’t too strong

Posca no, but switchel yes - which sounds like much the same thing, albeit with more northerly ingredients. It's just the thing for a hot day, provided as Erfaron says it's not too strong.The vinegar can really cut through your thirst - or turn your stomach if there's too much.

I've done cold herbal teas - usually mint and sage - but I don't know if I've tried this before. I've got a short hike scheduled this Monday, so I'll give it a try then.

I like to add lemon juice to my water if its going to be a warm one.

I took two bottles of a similar mixture on my latest hike - all day, about 14 miles total. Mint-sage tea (from garden-grown herbs) with some white wine vinegar and honey stirred in. Not overpowering, but tangy enough to tickle a thirsty throat. Still, very refreshing, and I drank the last mouthful with some regret. I find it one of the best hiking drinks I have yet tried.

Once they ran out, I had a mix of lemon juice powder and sugar that I poured into a refilled bottle and shook up. Lemonade is almost as good. Maybe next time I'll cut way back on the sugar.

Posca's good stuff! I usually do a mixture of water and red wine vinegar so that the water just turns pink. Took some with me on my last hike, and both myself and my friend felt pretty good about it.

Seems like this is likely in a similar vein to the folks I know from my local Renaissance festival who SWEAR by drinking pickle brine on a hot day. Truth be told, it sounds absolutely revolting to me, but then, I despise nearly all things pickled as a rule, so drinking the brine straight is about one of the worst things I could imagine!
That being said, perhaps just a small amount of red wine vinegar wouldn’t be QUITE so off-putting… but I’m not sure I’m game to try it in any case, heh.

I grew up in an Eastern European household and everything is better pickled, I have a whole fridge shelf for pickles.

Pickle juice is used by elite atheles as a natural cramp remedy. It supposedly has many of the same benefits as a sports drink.
I will drink the juice just to make my wife squeal with disgust but not otherwise.

I regularly keep some shrub/switchel in my fridge. I used Jas Townsends recipe from YouTube (link below) and it’s pretty delicious. I use maple syrup instead of molasses. My last batch I used ginger paste instead of powder, hoping it would mix better and not just settle in the glass. It’s also superb mixed with fruit juices (had some scuppernong juice and it was knockout). I live in Florida so it’s nice to have a cool drink like this on hand. I’ve replaced all my soda and electrolyte drinks in the house with this.

https://youtu.be/e8sPaesPOiU