Mulled wine is a wonderful healing and warming alcoholic beverage, in which there are a lot of useful substances. All of them are contained in seasonings and spices, which are used for its preparation. The history of the drink has several millennia. It has long been used for medicinal purposes.
Historical excursion
Mulled wine first appeared in ancient Rome. But then the spices were mixed with wine without heating, because in the Mediterranean climate this was not necessary. However, the drink gained real popularity in the Scandinavian countries in the Middle Ages. Then hot wine and spices were sold at Christmas markets and cooked mulled wine at home. After a couple of centuries, the recipe for cooking spread throughout the continent; at present, it is popular even in countries where the climate is very warm.
Since mulled wine belongs to warming drinks, it is served in most decent establishments in the winter. However, in order to enjoy its taste, it is not necessary to go to a restaurant, it is quite possible to cook mulled wine at home. In our article we want to tell you all the secrets of preparing this wonderful drink. This is actually not at all difficult. True, you need to know some nuances.
How to make homemade mulled wine?
A classic recipe involves the use of such ingredients:
- Red wine - 750 ml.
- Sugar - one tablespoon.
- Water - 100 ml.
- Ground ginger - one teaspoon.
- Grated nutmeg - one pinch.
- Cinnamon is one stick.
Five quantities of the drink will be obtained from this amount of ingredients.
When cooking at home, you can always change the composition of mulled wine. After all, no one forbids experimenting. You can add various spices and fruits to your taste. However, when making a drink for the first time, it is better to prepare it according to the classic recipe. In the future, changing the composition of mulled wine, you will be interested to compare the taste of your drink with the classic. After all, it all depends on what kind of wine and spices you will use.
What kind of wine is needed to make mulled wine?
Good red wine, as well as semi-sweet and sweet and dry wines, are great for making a drink. For example, cabernet, merlot, cahors, Kindzmarauli. Fortified wines should not be used, as they cannot be heated. When hot, they have a sharp smell of alcohol, which definitely spoils everything. Mulled wine can also be cooked on white wine, adding a little more sugar.
Beverage technology
How to cook homemade mulled wine? The recipe has its own nuances:
- In the dishes you need to mix spices with water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from heat and leave for ten minutes.
- Strain the broth through a sieve.
- Add wine, sugar and spices to the pan.
- Heat it all up to seventy degrees. You can not boil a drink.
- Then cover the dishes and insist the mixture.
- Hot mulled wine is served in transparent and tall glasses or ceramic cups that hold heat.
Mulled wine spices
Spices are important for making a miracle drink. After all, they contain all the useful substances, healing properties and taste characteristics. You need to apply them wisely. Connoisseurs know that you can’t mix more than five spices, otherwise the drink may turn out to be oversaturated in taste. Gourmets say that some spices together are better not to combine at all. Otherwise, instead of a refined aroma, a heavy mixture is obtained.
What spices can I use?
Almost all spices can be purchased in supermarkets and markets. More rare species can be found in online stores.
Let's look at exactly which spices for mulled wine can be used. We want to note that it is better to use whole spices, not ground, so that there is no precipitate, and the drink does not turn out cloudy. In addition, whole spices better convey aromas and are easily removed from the drink by catching with a spoon.
Cinnamon, cloves, anise, star anise, ginger, allspice, cardamom, nutmeg, bay leaf, coriander, saffron, lemon balm, mint are most often used for mulled wine. Let's talk more about each of these spices.
Cloves and mulled wine
Clove has a bright aroma and a burning taste. This is one of the classic ingredients. However, its smell is more pronounced at low temperatures. And with strong heating, it is practically not noticeable.
Therefore, they put it as late as possible. Clove has antimicrobial, cold and antiseptic properties. Therefore, it remains the most popular component of the drink.
Cinnamon is the basis of any mulled wine
Yes, it is cinnamon - the main component of the drink. Even the most skilled guru will not risk neglecting it. The fact is that cinnamon has a spicy aroma that can not be compared with anything. Apply it better in the form of sticks. In the ground state, it loses its taste.
Anise
This spice has a rich history. Mulled wine with anise has tremendous healing power, having an antipyretic effect. In addition, this spice is used as an invigorating agent in confectionery and drinks. Anise in a drink increases appetite. It goes well with cloves and cardamom.
Star anise
It has an antitussive effect. With its help, the voice is quickly restored. Star anise conveys the whole smell of mulled wine when heated. It improves digestion and even freshens the breath.
Ginger and Mulled Wine
Ginger is probably the most useful spice. It has a sharp piquant taste, which sharply distinguishes it from the spices in the drink. Ginger admirers are better off taking its root, as it has a milder taste when ground.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore is especially good for colds and hypothermia. Therefore, it is always used in mulled wine, preparing it on cold winter and autumn evenings. In addition, it contains vitamins B2, B1, C.
Allspice (Jamaican Pepper)
It has a pronounced aroma, and therefore it should be used with caution. Not everyone will like it.
Cardamom
But as for cardamom, it is an indispensable ingredient. It has a burning and pungent odor with a lemon tint, which is suitable for both a winter drink and a summer one. And it stimulates the brain, a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a spice widely used in the culinary of many countries. In mulled wine, it is used to produce a burning and tart taste.
He begins to emit his aroma when heated, and therefore it is put at the very beginning of preparation. Nutmeg helps to normalize pressure, improves brain activity. It is definitely worth using in autumn warming drinks, as it has calming properties, which means it will help to cope with autumn spleen.
Bay leaf
Bay leaf, as you know, has a strong and pronounced aroma. It is considered a natural antibacterial agent. But in mulled wine you need to be careful with it, otherwise your drink risks getting the smell of soup.
Coriander
Coriander is used in many dishes and drinks. It is added to white mulled wine, although in red it is not bad. It is able to stimulate appetite and improve digestion. Coriander contains vitamins B2, B1, C, PP, A. And also such sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine and iron.
Saffron
Saffron is considered one of the most ancient spices, which has analgesic and tonic properties. In mulled wine, it has a special aroma. It should not be mixed with other spices, as the aroma will be oversaturated.
Mulled Wine Use
Oddly enough, but lemon balm and mint are also used in the preparation of the drink. But not as often as other spices. They are appropriate in light summer mulled wine based on white wine. They can overload a hot red drink with their smells. However, peppermint remarkably raises the mood, and lemon balm has an antipyretic effect.
The use of honey and sugar in a drink
When preparing mulled wine at home, do not forget about honey and sugar. These are the most used elements of the drink. Honey with cinnamon is a divine combination, not to mention their usefulness.
Fruits, berries and dried fruits in mulled wine
The use of dried fruits in mulled wine gives it piquancy and originality. The most suitable for these purposes are dates, raisins, dried apricots, figs and prunes. All these dried fruits, as you know, are stimulants of the immune system. There are no uniform standards regarding their application. It all depends on preferences and taste.
Berries and fruits are also widely used in mulled wine, especially citrus fruits. There is no way to do without them (lemons, tangerines, oranges). But there are also recipes for drinks with strawberries, strawberries and raspberries. Of course, their beneficial substances are lost when heated, and therefore they only give the berry taste to the drink, they are no longer talking about their usefulness.
Mulled wine with white wine
White mulled wine has a refined taste. Its useful properties differ from the classic recipe with red wine.
It is white mulled wine that is especially effective for colds. It contains many useful substances, reliably strengthens the immune system. So we want to talk about how to cook classic mulled wine at home from white wine. To do this, you will need:
- Dry white wine - liter.
- Clove - five sticks.
- Cinnamon is one stick.
- Lemon or Orange - 1 pc.
- Honey, cardamom, sugar.
- Vanilla.
- Ginger root.
Pour wine into the dishes, adding spices and honey. Then put on a small fire, and stirring to wait for the appearance of small bubbles. Then remove from flame and add slices of orange and lemon. Cover the mixture with a lid and wait until it is infused. Strain, you can pour into glasses. You need to drink mulled wine only with hot and very small sips.
There are a lot of recipes for a white drink, so if you wish, when preparing mulled wine at home, you can try out different options, choosing the right one for yourself. In addition, you can experiment with different spices and fruits.
Can I use homemade wine?
To make a drink you need to take a good red wine or white.
It must be natural. You can purchase it in a store, or you can use a product of your own production. It is quite possible to make mulled wine from homemade wine, if it is of high quality and suits your taste.
Instead of an afterword
Mulled wine is a wonderful drink with a rich history. It is simply indispensable on cold winter and autumn evenings. Making and drinking this drink may well be a good occasion to invite friends to spend the evening in a pleasant and warm company. As you can see, the options for preparing mulled wine are simply a great many, as well as the varieties of wines and types of spices. So, the taste of mulled wine will always be new, because there is something to experiment with.