How to drink mulled wine correctly

In the winter cold or dank autumn colds and seasonal malaise and try to catch on, to spoil the mood and well-being. Different peoples have recipes for how to warm up and find comfort. One of the famous drinks that must be prepared for the New Year and Christmas holidays is mulled wine. It has long crossed national boundaries and acquired a host of additions to the classic recipe, but it remains a popular and favorite for residents of the northern parts of Europe.

What is mulled wine?

Most alcoholic beverages are recommended to be drunk chilled, and only mulled wine is drunk scalding hot. It warms and opens up inside with several levels of flavor, like an outlandish flower. Properly cooked, it will protect you from colds and give you strength for new achievements.

Interesting: Mulled wine is considered an indispensable attribute of Christmas fairs in European countries.

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

The prototype of the recipe was created in ancient Rome. The wine was mixed and infused for a short time on a particular group of spices, but not heated. In the land of plenty, where they had never even heard of winter, this was simply unnecessary. In northern regions, on the other hand, they quickly realized the appeal of hot wine with cloves and cinnamon. Many author's variations on the basis of the classic recipe were created. But some details remain the same. Mulled wine should be made from red dry wine, be moderately hot and stunningly aromatic.

Composition and calories

The traditional recipe includes:

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

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

The caloric value depends on the type of base. The lowest figure is 80 kcal per 100 ml. of product. With each addition it increases, especially if honey is included. Also in different regions apples, citrus fruits, cardamom, vanilla can be added.

In some cases, white wine is used, or the drink is made non-alcoholic, on the basis of apple juice. But such a composition very conventionally can be called mulled wine.

How to serve mulled wine correctly

It is important to observe the subtleties of serving, so as not to lose a drop of flavor and aroma. First of all, it should not be allowed to cool down. This is done using large mugs with a thick, comfortable handle to warm your cold fingers and not to burn yourself on the hot side of the crockery. A properly made drink tastes like a dessert, so it is usually served after a meal or as a light snack, complemented by a cheese plate.

We make a portion for one guest and serve it in a clay or glass mug. For the company it is customary to put mulled wine in a jug that holds heat well, and cover the top with a dressy napkin to maintain the desired temperature.

How to drink mulled wine correctly

There is almost no alcohol in the drink, the limit in the recipe without water is 7%, and that part evaporates when heated. Therefore it can be consumed almost without restrictions. You should not drive on this day, but you can make a holiday of taste in the evening. It is really so, if you consider how many recipes exist in parallel with the classics.

Drink it hot, in very small sips, without any straws. For a festive atmosphere, you can make a snowy sugar rim on the mugs by moistening the edge with citrus juice and gently dipping it in a container of granulated 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 snack on

Selecting the right combination of products will help to reveal the taste even more vividly and not to lose any of the tart notes. Diametrically opposed appetizers are suitable, each one will be good in its own way.

1. Sweet donuts with sprinkles are a classic addition at Christmas time. This is the combination found in holiday bazaars, whose location can be recognized by the cheerful noise and the stunning combination of the smells of pastries and vanilla. The sweetness of the doughnuts perfectly complements the tartness of the wine.
2. Grilled pork and spicy Bavarian sausages are the most traditional combination in Germany. Black pepper is also added to the wine to create a unity of flavors.
3. Cheese and unsweetened fruit enrich the flavor of the wine, and the French were quick to solve the problem of serving by leaving it to the guests. They serve several kinds of cheese, slices of orange and apple, and lightly toasted croutons in separate plates, with skewers or toothpicks. The center of the table is decorated with a large pitcher of mulled wine. The guests are free to create their own canapés as an appetizer to their taste.
4. Cakes and pastries from shortbread are excellent with tart drink with any content of spices. The appetizer is versatile, especially if you serve an assortment, where one part of the cakes with a fruit filling and the other with a cheese filling. Small "freckle" buns with jam and raisins are also welcome.
5. Ginger cookies are another classic option. The single ingredient in heated wine and baked goods creates a very harmonious flavor tandem.

How to drink mulled wine in bottles

A freshly made drink with quality spices will be most delicious. But if guests arrive in half an hour, and there is no time for extravagance, you can use a ready-made product from the store. To give the right temperature, the contents are heated in a water bath. To do this, water is poured into a saucepan, a plate is placed on the bottom and an open bottle is placed in the center of it. Heating gradually so as not to break the glass. Once the desired temperature is reached, the bottle is wrapped in a towel to reveal the flavor and keep warm.

Important: Heating the mixture several times is not recommended, it loses flavor and flavor goes away.

Sometimes the heating is done in the microwave, but the flavor changes slightly. It is better then to just reheat it in a small ladle, reanimating the mulled wine with a cinnamon stick and an orange peel.

Can we drink mulled wine cold?

In ancient times it was done this way, but then the very meaning of the warming drink is lost. You get the usual wine with spices, without subtle mixing of ingredients.

Is it possible to heat mulled wine a second time

You should not use such a measure. With each heating, the smell escapes. Ideally, mulled wine is drunk immediately after preparation, with the spices mixed just before reheating. As a last resort, you can apply a one-time promotion by buying a store-bought version. In other cases, you need to better wrap the container or already finish it as is.

It is worth considering: bring the liquid to a boil must not be brought to a boil, it loses its properties, the alcoholic component and the taste nuances.

Is it possible to drink mulled wine with a fever

In folk medicine, such a measure is used if the thermometer shows less than 39 degrees and no antibiotics are taken. Medicines are incompatible with alcohol, even in such token quantities. But when the cold is just beginning and there is a chance to do without pharmacy remedies, then it is worth adding to the drink a little more pepper and increasing the proportion of ginger. Then infuse it under insulation for 5 minutes, drink the contents of the glass in small sips, breathing in the aroma of orange or lemon zest with pleasure, and immediately dive under a warm blanket. Chances are, by morning, there won't be a trace of the bad feeling left behind.

Can I Drink Mulled Wine with Pregnancy?

Theoretically, alcohol is harmful when carrying a child. But there is also such a nuance as "want". If a pregnant woman has a passionate desire to taste it, you can treat yourself to 2-3 sips. An original step would be to offer the mother-to-be to make the drink herself. There is a good chance that in the process she will not want to try anything, the smell in the kitchen will be enough. You should also take into consideration one more nuance: in the first trimester you should not use cinnamon. It causes spasms of smooth muscles and increases the risk of spontaneous abortion.

How to make mulled wine in home conditions

The traditional base is red dry wine. As an option, a semi-sweet variety with a corresponding reduction in the proportion of sugar and the addition of citrus fruits is allowed. Sometimes you can use white dry wine. Recipes differ slightly depending on the country and region. There are also special family ways of making it.

Classic

For a winter drink you will need:

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

Infusion of spices is prepared in water. To do this, add the spices to the boiling liquid one by one, starting with cloves and ending with cinnamon, turn off after 1-2 minutes of boiling again. Cover the container and wrap with a towel. The wine is heated up to 40 degrees, add sugar and bring the temperature to 70-80. Then we pour the infusion of spices and immediately remove from the fire, without allowing it to boil.

Honey flavor.

Sugar can be replaced by honey, then the drink will acquire enhanced immunostimulating properties. Cooked without water. Pour 1 liter of wine in the melted honey, immediately add 4 peas of allspice, cardamom, lemon zest, 4 pieces of badjan, a sprig of cinnamon. The mixture is heated, strained, and served hot with a slice of orange.

White Fantasy

If no red wine is available, dry white wine is used. Be sure to add 1/4 of an orange or lemon along with the zest to reduce the sweetness. The spice set is classic. The ingredients are put in at the same time, bring to 80 degrees, then insist 15 minutes under insulation. After that you can start tasting.

Raspberry Delight

When there is only white wine in the arsenal, fresh or frozen berries will save the situation. For 1 liter of alcohol take 0.5 kg of raspberries, add 3 tablespoons of sugar, half a cinnamon stick, and vanilla to taste. After a gentle heating to the optimum temperature, let the drink stand for 10 minutes under a towel to mix all the ingredients and absorb the flavor of spices. Serve in ceramic mugs.

Attention: It is recommended to strain.

Apple mulled wine

Non-alcoholic analogue can not be considered a full-fledged replacement, but in some cases it is worth preparing it, if the use of alcohol is undesirable. Ingredients:

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

In a saucepan with a thick bottom put the components, gradually heat to 70-75 degrees and set aside for 10 minutes. Pregnant people make the drink without cinnamon. A worthy substitute for juice will be pre-brewed carcade.

The benefits and harms of mulled wine

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

• Prevent colds when hypothermic;
• stabilize the emotional state;
• eliminate insomnia;
• raise hemoglobin;
• activate the peristalsis of the intestines;
• tone the body.

Red wine elevates the mood, replenishes blood loss in women during the critical days, normalizes the 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 bans.

It is undesirable to try mulled wine during an exacerbation of GI diseases. Diabetic patients will have to take as a basis a recipe without sugar and honey.

Interesting facts about mulled wine

1. The ancestor of the drink is considered a wine with spices, which was prepared in ancient Rome. The classic recipe was made in the XIV century in Europe.
2. At first, mulled wine was available only to wealthy citizens.
3. The composition includes a variety of spices. Experimentation in the preparation is only welcome.
4. The optimal temperature is considered a range of 70 to 80 degrees.
5. Shelf life of the warmed mixture does not exceed 2 hours.
6. By boiling the flavor and aroma is lost.
7. Preference for cooking is given to inexpensive varieties of red dry wine.
8. White wines can be used.
9. There are two technologies of making mulled wine - with the addition of water and undiluted version.
10. There is no fixed set of spices for mulled wine. The basis is cinnamon, badjan, cloves and lemon. Next come variations using bay leaf, apples, raisins, ginger, black pepper, and allspice.

Tip: Mulled wine lovers should buy a small enameled pot or ladle and use it only for making the drink. This way there will be no extraneous odors and impurities, as the enamel is inert. The inside of the pot will change color over time, absorbing the ingredients, but the taste will remain really unclouded.

As any alcohol, mulled wine requires measure: you shouldn't drink more than two glasses. You should also take into account a little catch of the drink, which lies in a mild diuretic effect. In winter colds, mulled wine will be a wonderful addition to a dinner or warm on a walk through the shopping aisles at Christmas market. The main thing is to observe the measure and sincerely enjoy each sip.

Photo of mulled wine