Period Correct non-alcoholic drinks

[Bullmoose]

At our family days Rondy's a good friend of mine was working on setting up a refreshment tent with all the fix'ens. Only non-alcoholic drinks can be served. So does anyone have a good list on period drinks that kids and adults could enjoy. HOT DRINKS AND COLD DRINKS. :hmm: Maybe a "FAKE" buttered rum that taste good too.

 

[bnail]

Hey RBM:
The ultimate period drink, Water! :rotf:
Sorry, couldn't resist. The Ladies in My group once served Shrub to our fallen comrades in the field. . . once. it's a vinegar drink that didn't go over too big. I couldn't remember the recipe, so I googled it, and here's a neat site that might help you out:
Click Here
Also, Might I recommend a good pig of micro brewed root beer.
And also, since beer seemed almost ubiquitous, a non alcohalic ale?
Good luck :thumbsup:

 

[onefeather]

tea.coffee.water.fruit juices i would think :thumbsup:

 

[twobirds]

If looking for something "period" that is appropriate to the area, sassafras tea is a good hot drink, as is yaupon tea. Both are native to East Texas. Sumac berry tea, when boiled, cooled and sweetened makes a lemonade substitute. Let me know if you need more info.

 

[onefeather]

oh yeah.spice wood tea is good too.and poke berry stems boiled twice is a good peroid correct food and it taste good.but boil twice :grin:

 

[chipper]

Mint tea.
Hot and cold cider with or without cinammon.
Tea made from rose hips and wild berries.

You might want to check out local herbs.

Wounded Knee

 

[onefeather]

cider thats a good one.i love cider thanks :bow: :thumbsup:

 

[Birdman]

A berry Shrub is good especially in the heat of summer. Take a full quart sized baggie of black berries and mash em up good, then add a quart of Red Wine Vinager and two cups of sugar. Let this set n stew for a couple days(stir on occasion).Strain the fluid off through a colender and squeeze the pulp to get all the juice ya can from it. Then put the fluid into steralized jars n cap to store. This is a concentrate, when ya want to drink it mix it about 3 to 1, water to concentrate. You'll have to test the mix until ya get it to your taste. At first it seems way to vinagery but it is an aquired taste, give it a chance to grow on ya. In the summer I like it over ice and a bit on the stronger side. Make sure ya use the Red Wine vinager for a smoother taste.It is sort of like a Colonial Gatorade, puts all kinds of electrolites n minerals n stuff back into your system YMHS Birdman

 

Cider, Coffee, Tea, and lets not forget Hot Choclate. Jas Townsend and Son sells El Popular Choclate that can be melted down in water or milk...and on that note I suppose good old milk. If you can find it get some milk that is not homoginized. Not only will it look more PC, as the cream will rize to the top, it also taste better.
Pick up some cone sugar (also available at Jas Townsend) to sweeten your coffe/tea.

 

[atki]

During Colonial times their were 'small beers'. This refered to beers (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) that were made locally in the villages. Root Beer, Giner Beer and Sasparilla were all available.

I like serving up Sasparilla at Rendezvous. It will put a curl in your lip if you're used to sweet root beer. I believe it was avaialable bottled around 1800.

Here is a good Sasparilla:[url] http://www.olbobmillers.com/index.htm[/url]

 

Ginger beer, rootbeer and birch beer(tasts like wintergreen). Sasparilla is a type of rootbeer. All are still made.

 

[onefeather]

yeah i forgot about birch beer.i dont know how to make it but if you got the right kind of birch near you breck the bark a little and it will smell winter green.thats why the bucks like to rub on it.i think that would be good when cooking up some poke berry stew with the birch flavor and some sasafras tea.i personally dont like spice wood tea.i would rather drink water. :haha:

 

[Ridge]

Coffee became popular after the Rev War.

 

[Gary]

I'm with skagun except I'd call it White Tea or Sparkling Spartan Cider. Either could be served hot or cold.

 

[shunka]

Mint Teas! Spearmint and Peppermint are very popular. Any Berry juices, can be served as squeezed ( quite tart) or sweetened to taste with Cane Sugar.

Spiced Coffees, Vienese Coffees,Choclate Coffees, Cinamon Coffees!

Egg Nog was around since Elizabethan times, and various non- alcoholic versions are available, both Hot and Cold.

Speaking of Hot vs Cold, Cheaper Drinks were usually heated or chilled in order to disguise the fact that the flavor was, um, "less refined". This was often done with cheap wine: Mulled Wine in it's simplest form was made by sticking a hot fireplace poker into the filled Wine Mug at the Inn.

Mulled cider is a great beverage, often served to Wassailers. Some folks add pinapple juice, cranberry juice and more. My favorite recipe is very simple:
in a very large kettle, add
non-homogenized apple cider
cinamon, nutmeg and allspice to taste, and float several well pounded oranges which has been well studded with fresh cloves. Heat till streaming.

Some folks like to float roasted apples as well.

If you choose to go Wassailing, click On this Link
and Remember the toast goes like this:
Was hail! to which the reply is drink hail!

best
shunka