Mulled wine: the drink served in a mug

The first contact I've ever had with the mulled wine happened last year, around this time. The German Christmas Market (here) was all set up and after having the time of our lives skating in the ring in Broadmead, we warmed up with a glass of mulled wine. Or shall I say a "mug" of mulled wine?

For those who don't know what I am talking about, mulled wine is n alcoholic beverage made with red wine and various other sweet ingredients, which is served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially between Halloween and Christmas. Don't worry, I've never heard of it before coming to the UK either!

According to Wikipedia (here), British mulled wine was popular in Vitorian times, although there are other famous German and Nordic versions of the same drink, and mulled wine is drunk almost everywhere in Europe except in Spain.

Drinking an alcoholic drink from a mug is weird, and even more when it's hot. I have to say that I did not like the mulled wine first time I had it. It seemed to be a sweet hot soup. It took me around 1h to drink it all! Too sweet and too hot in my opinion. However, during the Christmas Press Show in House of Fraser, I have been offered mulled wine again, and I loved it! And I am sure the quality of the mulled wine this second time was way better than last year in the German Christmas Market. So, hey! If you didn't like mulled wine the first time you had it, give it a second chance. Maybe it surprises you!

RECIPE for MULLED WINE (By Adam Grey)

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This is all you need:

• Red wine (750ml)
• Orange juice (250ml)
• Water (100ml)
• Peach schnapps (50ml)
• Orange (1/2)
• Star anise (5gr)
• Cloves (3g)
• Juniper berries (1g)
• 1 Cinnamon stick 
• Cardamom pod
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig of fresh thyme

How to do it:

1. Combine the red wine, orange juice, peach schnapps and water in a saucepan. Add the bay leaf, cardamom pod, cinnamon stick, cloves, orange zest, juniper berries, thyme and star anise and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes
2. Carefully pass the mulled wine through a fine sieve and into a jug. It is now ready to serve 

You might also be interested on Bristolian Cake recipe.