The Vernors Ginger Ale Queen
Several months ago, I read Suleika Jaouad's essay about her father being the Olive Oil King. It seems his mother used it as a cure-all, and to this day, he still takes a spoonful every morning for digestion and uses it as a mouthwash and moisturizer.
Hearing her story got me thinking about my Grandma, my father's mother. A petite Irish Catholic woman who spent her adult life in Detroit, Michigan, was the unofficial Queen of Vernors Ginger Ale. As family lore would have it, Kit (her nickname) went to nursing school in the early 1900s. She was the person the family called when anyone in the family was sick. Her cure for everything was Vernors Ginger Ale and Mercurochrome, but that’s a story for another day.
Before moving to Detroit, Kit traveled in the South as a nurse and worked in Atlanta. I often wondered whether she knew about the early medicinal uses of Coca-Cola ©, which was first sold in pharmacies. Upon arriving in Detroit, she quickly learned Vernors' curative powers, its history, and how it helped with stomach ailments. Mixing it with lemon juice and serving it hot was great for a sore throat or cough.
So, of course, my dad grew up knowing that you drink Vernors for whatever ails you. My mom, a native of Detroit, was also familiar with the healing benefits of Vernons. Mom always gave me a bottle of Vernors when I was sick as a child. The smell of ginger and the fizz of the effervescent bubbles was a comfort and a treat, as we never had soda in the house.
When my daughter was not feeling well, I made sure to have Vernors on hand. In the 1990s, it was not always easy to find in Denver. I would request it from my local grocery store, and they would special-order it for me.
I have often wondered if other families had their cure-alls passed down from generation to generation. What medicinal home remedies does your family have?
Even today, the majority of Vernor's sales come from Michiganders. We know about the magic and wonder of Vernors Ginger Ale, and of course, Michigan is where my Grandma was crowned the Vernors Queen! All hail the Queen.
Bit by bit, that’s all she wrote…