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New Year is very close, I want a special and warming drink.
What to choose? Vodka is too strong, hot beer is not festive. A discovery from my European trip comes to mind – “mulled wine”. Today I will teach you how to make a real classic drink, and not “this is the swill” that is sometimes sold on our streets.
What is real mulled wine
Mulled wine (literally – hot wine) – the name of a drink based on wine, sugar and spices heated to the point of boiling. In addition, the taste of the drink can be enriched by the berries, fruits and spices used in the manufacturing process.
The use of such a hot and spicy alcoholic drink is considered traditional for European countries, such as Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, the Baltic countries and Poland.
From the latter country, most likely, the Slavic version of the name “glintwain” of the German phrase “gluhend wein” came to Russia.
Artem was just making a summer selection of his favorite classic recipes, I advise you to look at them too.
Recipes for wine with the addition of spices were known as early as the era of Ancient Rome, but recipes in which wine was heated along with various fruits and spices gained great popularity during the Middle Ages.
Cooking mulled wine
Before proceeding with the preparation of the drink, it is necessary to select the appropriate dishes – they should not oxidize.
An enameled or glass pan is suitable for this purpose, and a ceramic refractory pot may also be suitable.
There are two main options for preparing mulled wine – a drink based on wine and citrus and a recipe with the addition of water.
“Mulled wine citrus”
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of wine;
- zest of half a lemon;
- zest of a whole orange;
- star anise (2 – 3 stars);
- cinnamon (one stick);
- cloves (2 – 3 buds);
- 100 ml of water;
- 75 gram of sugar.
Orange and lemon – pour boiling water over, clean off the wax with a towel and remove the zest very thinly.
Combine water (you can replace half with an orange, but it will be sour, get ready), citrus fruits and spices in one container, bring to a state close to boiling, slightly sweat them for 5-10 minutes and you can reduce the heat and add sugar.
Now pour in the wine, bring it to 70-80 degrees and turn it off. Then strain – mulled wine can be served.
“Classic mulled wine” – with the addition of water
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of wine;
- 2 Art. spoons of sugar;
- cloves (8 – 10 buds);
- nutmeg (1/2 teaspoon);
- 100 g of water.
The drink according to this recipe is prepared in two stages:
- Place the spices in a small container, for example, a Turk, pour water and bring to a state close to boiling. Keep on low heat for one minute. Spicy dressing should be infused for ten to fifteen minutes.
- Heat the wine, pour in the dressing, add sugar, mix, bring to a state close to boiling and strain.
Mulled wine is ready and you can treat yourself to it.
What spices should not be added to mulled wine
A wide variety of spices can be used for mulled wine: cinnamon, cloves, saffron and cardamom, ginger, pepper (black and allspice) and nutmeg are the spices that are used in the manufacture of mulled wine.
Even bay leaves, in small quantities, come in handy in some recipes.
However, there are spices that should not be added to mulled wine. Such seasonings include: curry, coriander, ground black and red peppers.
In addition, no sets of apothecary herbs and seeds.
The basic rules that should be followed when making a hot drink:
- do not use more than four types of spices at the same time;
- do not add a large amount of spices if there is no experience in mixing them, in this case it is recommended to stick to an already tested recipe;
- it is desirable to use in the preparation of mulled wine those spices and spices, the taste of which is already familiar and pleasant.
To make a hot drink, you can not use sets of seasonings intended for other purposes – for example, suneli hops. There are special blends for mulled wine (but I don’t like them).
What is the best wine for mulled wine?
For the manufacture of mulled wine, dry and semi-dry red or white wines are traditionally used. According to the norms, the strength of the drink should not be less than 7%.
There is an opinion that even low-quality wine is suitable for mulled wine – all the same, its taste will be changed by spices. This approach to making a drink is not entirely correct – wine may not be expensive, but of high quality, its taste should be pleasant.
Georgian “Saperavi” or Russian wine “Pinot Noir de Gai-Kodzor” are suitable for making mulled wine based on red wine, and Krasnodar “Licuria” or Armenian “Voskevaz” will be an excellent basis for a white drink.
Russian, Georgian, Armenian or Italian wine is a matter of taste and financial possibilities. There is always a choice, and it is yours.
There are many recipes for making mulled wine. In some cooking options, there are recommendations that the drink should be infused for 40 – 50 minutes – only then it will be ready to drink. This is also a very good option, try it.
Do you think the product, whose name translates as “hot wine”, can be considered real mulled wine after it has stood for almost an hour at room temperature?
Чрезмерное употребление алкоголя вредит вашему здоровью! Берегите себя!