How to drink mulled wine

In the winter cold or dank autumn season colds and seasonal ailments strive to cling to, spoil your health and mood. Different peoples have recipes on how to keep warm and find comfort. One of the famous drinks, which is necessarily prepared for the New Year and Christmas holidays, is mulled wine. He has long crossed national borders, acquired a lot of additions to the classic recipe, but still remains popular and beloved for residents of the northern regions of Europe.

What is mulled wine

Most alcoholic drinks are recommended to be drunk chilled, and only mulled wine is used to be scorching hot. It warms, reveals within several levels of taste, like a strange flower. Properly prepared, it will protect from colds and give strength for new achievements.

Interesting: mulled wine is considered an indispensable attribute of Christmas markets in Europe.

It is radically different from the usual aperitifs. A share of alcohol is present, but it is so hidden in the thick of the amazing aroma of spices that it is almost not felt.

The prototype of the recipe was created in ancient Rome. The wine was mixed and insisted for a short time on a certain group of seasonings, but not heated. In the fertile land, where they had not even heard of winter, this was simply not necessary. But in the northern regions they quickly realized the charm of hot wine with cloves and cinnamon. On the basis of the classic recipe created a lot of copyright options. But some details remain unchanged. Mulled wine should be prepared from dry red wine, be moderately hot and incredibly fragrant.

Composition and calorie content

A traditional recipe includes:

• Red wine;
• sugar;
• a pinch of nutmeg;
• ginger;
• cinnamon
• cloves.

There are 2 varieties of mulled wine - with and without water. The difference is in the strength of the drink and the method of preparation. In a weaker version, the spices reveal the taste in water, and then wine is added.

Calorie content depends on the type of base. The lowest rate is 80 kcal per 100 ml. product. With each additive, it increases, especially if honey is introduced into the composition. Also in various regions apples, citrus fruits, cardamom, vanilla can be added.

In some cases, they use white wine or make the drink non-alcoholic, based on apple juice. But such a composition can very conditionally be called mulled wine.

How to serve mulled wine

It is important to observe the subtleties of the feed so as not to lose a drop of taste and aroma. First of all, you must not let it cool. To do this, use impressive mugs with a thick convenient handle to at the same time warm your fingers and not burn yourself on the hot side of the dishes. The taste of a properly prepared drink resembles a dessert, so it is customary to serve it after a meal or in the form of a light snack, complementing a cheese plate.

For one guest, a portion is prepared and immediately served in a clay or glass mug. It is customary for a company to put mulled wine in a jug that holds heat well and cover it with a smart napkin to maintain the desired temperature.

How to drink mulled wine

There is almost no alcohol in the drink, the marginal rate in the recipe without water is 7%, and that part evaporates when heated. Therefore, it can be used with almost no restrictions. It’s not necessary to drive already on this day, but you can arrange a celebration of taste in the evening. This is true when you consider how many recipes exist in parallel with the classics.

They drink it in hot, very shallow sips, without any straws. To give a festive atmosphere, you can make a sugar edging on the mugs by dipping the edge with citrus juice and gently dipping it in a container of sugar. For decoration, it is better to use only those elements that are already in the composition, for example, a ring of orange. The drink can be enjoyed alone or with a hearty snack.

What to eat

Choosing the right combination of products will help even more clearly reveal the taste and not lose a single tart note. Diametrically opposed snacks will do, each will be good in its own way.

1. Sweet sprinkled donuts are a classic addition to the Christmas season. It is this combination that is found in festive bazaars, the location of which can be found from the cheerful noise and the stunning combination of baking and vanilla smells. The sweetness of the donuts perfectly complements the astringency of the wine.
2. Grilled pork and spicy Bavarian sausages - this is the combination most traditional for Germany. At the same time, black pepper is also added to the wine to create a unity of tastes.
3. Cheese and unsweetened fruits will enrich the taste of wine, while the French quickly solved the problem of serving, leaving it to the discretion of the guests. They serve several types of cheeses, slices of oranges and apples, slightly fried croutons in separate plates, put skewers or toothpicks nearby. The middle of the table is decorated with a large jug of mulled wine. Further, guests have the freedom of creativity, each independently builds a canapé to their liking to their taste.
4. Shortcrust pastries and cakes are perfect for a tart drink with any spice content. The appetizer is universal, especially if you serve assorted dishes, where one part of the fruit patties and the other with cheese filling. Small “freckle” buns with jam and raisins are also welcome.
5. Gingerbread cookies are another classic option. A single ingredient in warmed wine and pastries creates a very harmonious taste tandem.

How to drink bottled mulled wine

The most delicious will be a freshly made drink with quality spices. But if guests arrive in half an hour, and there is no time for delights, then you can use the finished product from the store. To give the desired temperature, the contents are heated in a water bath. To do this, pour water into the pan, put a plate on the bottom and put an open bottle in its center. Heated gradually so that the glass does not burst. Once the desired temperature is reached, the bottle is wrapped in a towel to reveal the aroma and maintain heat.

Important: several times to warm the mixture is not recommended, the taste is lost and the aroma disappears.

Sometimes the heating is carried out in the microwave, but the taste of this changes slightly. It is better then just to warm in a small bucket, resuscitating mulled wine with a cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

Can I drink mulled wine cold

In ancient times they did just that, but then the very meaning of the warming drink is lost. It turns an ordinary wine with spices, without a subtle mix of ingredients.

Can I mulled wine a second time

Do not use such a measure. With every heating, the smell disappears. Ideally, mulled wine is drunk immediately after preparation, and seasoning is mixed immediately before heating. In extreme cases, you can apply a one-time promotion by buying a store option.In other cases, you need to better wrap the container or already finish it up as it is.

It is worth considering: It is impossible to bring the liquid to a boil, it loses its properties, alcohol component and taste.

Is it possible to drink mulled wine at a temperature

In traditional medicine, such a measure is applied provided that the thermometer shows less than 39 degrees and antibiotics are not taken. Medications are incompatible with alcohol, even in such symbolic quantities. But when the cold is just beginning and there is a chance to do without pharmaceuticals, it is worth adding a little more pepper to the drink and increasing the proportion of ginger. Then insist under warming for 5 minutes, drink the contents of the glass in small sips, gladly inhaling the aroma of orange or lemon peel, and immediately dive under a warm blanket. There is a chance that by morning from feeling unwell there will be no trace.

Can pregnant women drink mulled wine

Theoretically, alcohol is harmful when carrying a child. But there is still such a nuance as "I want." If a pregnant woman has an ardent desire to feel the taste, then you can treat 2-3 sips. An original step will be the proposal to the expectant mother to make a drink herself. There is a big chance that in the process she will not want to try anything, the smell spreading throughout the kitchen will be enough. It is worth considering another 1 nuance: in the first trimester, the use of cinnamon is not desirable. It causes smooth muscle spasms and increases the risk of spontaneous abortion.

How to make mulled wine at home

The traditional basis is dry red wine. As an option, a semisweet variety is allowed with a corresponding reduction in the proportion of sugar and the addition of citrus fruits. Sometimes you can use dry white wine. Recipes vary slightly depending on the country, region. There are also special family cooking methods.

Classic

For a winter drink you will need:

• dry red wine - 1 liter;
• water - 100 ml;
• sugar - 15 g;
• cinnamon, nutmeg - 1/4 teaspoon each;
• ginger - 2 g;
• cloves - 6 buds.

An infusion of spices is prepared in water. To do this, spices are added to the boiling liquid, starting with cloves and ending with cinnamon, they are turned off 1–2 minutes after boiling again. The container is covered and wrapped in a towel. The wine is heated to 40 degrees, sugar is added and the temperature is brought to 70–80. Then pour in the infusion of spices and immediately remove from the heat, not allowing to boil.

Honey flavor

Sugar can be replaced with honey, then the drink will gain enhanced immunostimulating properties. Cooked without water. Pour 1 liter of wine into the melted honey, immediately add 4 peas of allspice, cardamom, lemon zest, 4 pcs. star anise, on the tip of a cinnamon knife. The mixture is heated, filtered and served hot with a slice of orange.

White fantasy

If there is no red wine, then dry white is used. 1/4 of an orange or lemon is necessarily added to it along with the zest to reduce sweetness. Classic spices set. The ingredients are laid at the same time, brought to 80 degrees, then insist 15 minutes under warming. After that, you can start the tasting.

Raspberry pleasure

When there is only white wine in the arsenal, fresh or frozen berries will save the situation. 0.5 kg of raspberries are taken per 1 liter of alcohol, 3 tbsp are added to the mixture. tablespoons of sugar, half a stick of cinnamon, vanilla to taste. After gradually warming up to the optimum temperature, the drink is allowed to stand for 10 minutes under a towel to mix all the ingredients and absorb the aroma of spices. Served in ceramic mugs.

Attention: It is recommended to strain.

Apple Mulled Wine

A non-alcoholic analogue cannot be considered a full-fledged replacement, but in some cases it is worth preparing it if drinking alcohol is undesirable. Ingredients:

• natural apple juice - 1 l;
• water - 100 ml;
• pulp of 1 orange;
• cloves - 2 buds;
• cinnamon - 1 stick;
• nutmeg - 1/6 teaspoon.

In a pot with a thick bottom, lay the ingredients, gradually heat up to 70–75 degrees and set aside for 10 minutes. A pregnant woman is given a drink without cinnamon. A preferable substitute for juice would be pre-brewed hibiscus.

The benefits and harms of mulled wine

Mulled wine does not just warm in the cold, it helps:

• prevent colds during hypothermia;
• stabilize the emotional state;
• eliminate insomnia;
• raise hemoglobin;
• activate intestinal motility;
• tone up the body.

Red wine raises the mood, replenishes blood loss in women on critical days, normalizes hormonal balance. The composition of spices makes the drink a good aphrodisiac and is suitable for a romantic evening.

Harm with delicate use is possible only in case of allergic reactions to spices, with complete intolerance to alcohol and strict medical prohibitions.

It is undesirable to try mulled wine during an exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases. Diabetes patients will have to take a prescription without sugar and honey.

Interesting facts about mulled wine

1. The ancestor of the drink is considered to be wine with spices, which was prepared in ancient Rome. The classic recipe was compiled in the 14th century in Europe.
2. At first, mulled wine was available only to wealthy citizens.
3. The composition includes various spices. Experiments in the cooking process are welcome.
4. The optimum temperature is a range from 70 to 80 degrees.
5. The shelf life of the warmed mixture does not exceed 2 hours.
6. When boiled, the taste and aroma are lost.
7. The preference for cooking is given to inexpensive varieties of dry red wine.
8. You can use white types of wine.
9. There are 2 technologies for preparing mulled wine - with the addition of water and an undiluted version.
10. There is no fixed set of spices for mulled wine. The basis is cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon. Further variations begin with the use of bay leaf, apples, raisins, ginger, black and allspice.

Tip: mulled wine lovers should buy a small enameled pan or ladle and use it only to make a drink. So there will be no third-party odors and impurities, since the enamel is inert. The interior of the dishes will eventually turn a different shade, absorbing the components, but the taste will remain truly unclouded.

Like any alcohol, mulled wine requires action: you should not drink more than 2 glasses. It is necessary to take into account the small catch of the drink, which lies in the mild diuretic effect. In the winter cold, mulled wine will be a great addition to dinner or warm up for a walk along the malls of the Christmas market. The main thing is to observe the measure and sincerely enjoy every sip.

Mulled wine photo