Our Story

Origin of Switchel

Switchel is America’s original, 17th-century thirst quencher. It’s been said that colonial sailors and farmers used switchel as a way to overcome harsh winters and rehydrate during blistering summers. (It’s also been said that they weren’t too shy about adding a little moonshine to their switchy!)

The core of every switchel is fresh water, ginger, apple cider vinegar, and an unrefined sweetener.

Our owner and founder Melina, a former college hockey player, first started brewing switchel in her dorm room as a means to replenish and rehydrate after a night on the ice. After graduating college, she was persuaded to sell her switchel at a local, Minnesota farmers market. When she couldn’t keep up with the demand, she decided to turn her passion for sustainable food and waterway conservation into a business. Now, Melina’s switchel can be found in select retailers all over the United States! The Superior line of ready-to-drink switchel beverages are botanically brewed with Non-GMO, Certified Organic, and Certified Vegan ingredients from US farmers and 1% of all sales support the Great Lakes and waterways.

Mission

Our mission is to craft delicious, organic, healthy beverages that nourish both people and the planet.

Vision

Our vision is to make the world a better place, by not only providing a better beverage but a better adventure — one that connects people to each other and to the planet.

Our Story

Our owner and founder Melina, a former college hockey player, discovered switchel as a means to replenish and rehydrate after a night on the ice. After graduating college, she was persuaded to sell her switchel at a local, Minnesota farmers market. When she couldn’t keep up with the demand, she decided to turn her passion for sustainable food and waterway conservation into a business. Now, Melina’s switchel can be found in select retailers all over the United States! The Superior line of ready-to-drink switchel beverages are botanically brewed with Non-GMO, Certified Organic, and Certified Vegan ingredients from US farmers and 1% of all profits support the Great Lakes and waterways.

Mission

To nourish people through delicious, organic, healthy beverages, and the planet through donating 1% of our annual profits.

Vision

To be the Force of Hydration that not only provides a better beverage, but a better adventure – one that connects people to each other and to the outdoors.

The Greater Good

We craft beverages that nourish people and the planet. We're committed to having a sustainable supply chain -- one that values minority-owned suppliers who also make social and environmental values a priority. We’re passionate about our resources and actively support U.S. land and water conservation efforts with 1% of our annual sales.

This year we partnered with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, a remarkable organization devoted to protecting, preserving, and restoring the wilderness character of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico-Superior Ecosystem.

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Certified B Corporation

Superior Switchel Company became a Certified B Corporation in May 2018. B Corps are a new type of company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corp certification is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.

We were certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. We’ve evaluated how our practices impact our employees, our community, the environment, and our customers.

We are proud to join over 2,200 Certified B Corps around the globe in redefining success in business so that one day everyone uses business as a force for good. To learn more about our certification, check out our B Corp profile.