How to cook mulled wine at home? Ingredients, recipe

Mulled wine is a wonderful healing and warming drink, in which there is a mass of useful substances. All of them are contained in seasonings and spices, which are used for its preparation. The history of the drink is several thousand years old. It has long been used for medicinal purposes.

Historical digression

For the first time mulled wine appeared in ancient Rome. But then the spices were mixed with wine without heating, as in the Mediterranean climate this was not necessary. However, the real popularity of the drink acquired in the Scandinavian countries in the Middle Ages. Then hot wine and spices were sold at Christmas fairs and mulled wine at home. After a couple of centuries, the recipe for cooking has spread throughout the continent, now it is popular even in countries where the climate is very warm.

Since mulled wine refers to warming beverages, it is served in winter in most of the decent establishments. However, in order to enjoy his taste, you do not need to go to a restaurant, it is possible to cook mulled wine at home. In this article we want to tell you all the secrets of cooking this wonderful drink. In fact, this is not difficult at all. True, you need to know some nuances.

How to cook homemade mulled wine?

The recipe for classic cooking involves the use of such ingredients:

1. Red wine - 750 ml.
2. Sugar - one tablespoon.
3. Water - 100 ml.
4. Ground ginger - one teaspoon.
5. Nutmeg grated - one pinch.
6. Cinnamon is one stick.

From this amount of ingredients, you will get five servings of the drink.

When cooking at home, you can always change the composition of mulled wine. No one forbids experimenting. You can add different spices and fruits to your liking. However, when making a drink for the first time, it is better to cook 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. It all depends on what kind of wine and spices you will use.

What kind of wine do you need to make mulled wine?

To prepare the drink, a good red wine, as well as semi-sweet and sweet and dry wines, will suit perfectly. For example, Cabernet, Merlot, Cahors, Kindzmarauli. Fortified wines are best not to use, as they can not be heated. In the hot state they have a sharp smell of alcohol, which clearly spoils everything. Mulled wine can also be cooked on white wine, adding a little more sugar.

Technology of preparation of a drink

How to cook homemade mulled wine? The formulation has its own nuances:

1. In the dishes you need to mix the spices with water.
2. Bring to a boil the mixture, then remove from heat and infuse for ten minutes.
3. Strain the broth through a sieve.
4. Add wine, sugar and spices to the pan.
5. Heat it all up to seventy degrees. Boil the drink can not.
6. Next, cover the dishes with a lid and insist the mixture.
7. The finished mulled wine is served in a hot form in transparent and high glasses or cups of ceramic that hold heat.

Spices for mulled wine

To prepare a miracle drink spices are important. After all, they contain all the useful substances, medicinal properties and taste characteristics. Apply them with the mind. Connoisseurs know that you can not mix more than five spices, otherwise the drink can turn out to be a saturated taste palette. Gourmets say that it is better not to combine some spices together. Otherwise, instead of a refined flavor, a heavy mixture is obtained.

What spices can I use?

Virtually all spices can be purchased in supermarkets and markets. Rarer species can be looked after in online stores.

Let's see what kind of spice for mulled wine can be used. We want to note that it is better to use whole spices, not ground, that there was no sediment, and the drink did not turn muddy. In addition, whole spices pass the flavors better and are easily removed from the drink by catching a spoon.

The most commonly used for making mulled wine are cinnamon, cloves, anise, baden, ginger, scented peppers, cardamom, nutmeg, bay leaf, coriander, saffron, lemon balm, mint. Let's talk more about each of these spices.

Carnation and mulled wine

Carnation has a bright aroma and burning taste. This is one of the classic ingredients. However, its smell is more pronounced at low temperatures. And with strong heating, it is almost invisible.

Therefore, they put it as late as possible. Carnation has antimicrobial, anti-cold and antiseptic properties. Because it remains the most popular component of the drink.

Cinnamon - the basis of any mulled wine

Yes, yes, it is cinnamon - the main component of the drink. Even the most skilled guru will not dare neglect it. The fact is that the cinnamon has a spicy flavor that can not be compared to anything. Apply it better in the form of chopsticks. In the ground state, it loses its flavor properties.

Anise

This spice has a rich history. Mulled wine with anise has a huge healing power, possessing antipyretic effect. In addition, this spice is used as an invigorating agent in confectionery and beverages. Anise in a drink increases appetite. It is perfectly combined with carnation and cardamom.

Badian

Has antitussive effect. With his help, the voice is quickly restored. Badyan conveys the smell of mulled wine when heated. It improves digestion and even refreshes the breath.

Ginger and mulled wine

Ginger is probably the most useful spice. It has a pungent spicy taste, which sharply distinguishes it from spices in a drink. Ginger lovers should better take its root, because in the ground form it has a softer taste.

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore is especially good for colds and hypothermia. Therefore, it is always used in mulled wine, preparing it for cold winter and autumn evenings. In addition, it contains vitamins B2, B1, C.

Fragrant (Jamaican pepper)

Has a pronounced flavor, and therefore it should be used with caution. It's not everyone will like it.

Cardamom

But as far as cardamom, it is an indispensable ingredient. It has a burning and pungent smell with a lemon tint, which is suitable for both a winter drink and a summer one. And he stimulates the brain, favorably affecting the nervous system.

Nutmeg Muscat

Nutmeg is a spice widely used in the cooking of many countries. In mulled wine it is used to obtain a burning and tart taste.

His aroma begins to emit when heated, and therefore it is placed at the very beginning of cooking. Nutmeg promotes normalization of pressure, improves the activity of the brain. It must be used in autumn warming beverages, because it has soothing properties, which means it will help to cope with the autumn blues.

Bay leaf

The Bay leaf, as you know, has a strong and pronounced flavor. It is considered a natural antibacterial agent. But in mulled wine with it you need to be careful, otherwise your drink risks to get the smell of soup.

Coriander

Coriander is used in a variety of dishes and drinks. It is added to white mulled wine, although it is not bad in red. It is able to arouse appetite and improve digestion. Coriander contains vitamins В2, В1, С, РР, А. And also such sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine and iron.

Saffron

Saffron is considered one of the most ancient spices, which has analgesic properties and tonic. In mulled wine it has a special flavor. It should not be confused with other spices, since the fragrance will be oversaturated.

Use in mulled wine herbs

Strangely enough, but lemon balm and mint are also used in the preparation of a drink. But not as often as other spices. They are appropriate in light summer mulled wine on the basis of white wine. A hot red drink they can overload with their smells. However, peppermint improves mood, and melissa has antipyretic effect.

Application 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 are known to be stimulants of immunity. There are no uniform standards regarding their application. It all depends on the preferences and taste.

Berries and fruits are also widely used in mulled wine, especially citrus fruits. Without them there is no way to do (lemons, tangerines, oranges). But there are recipes for drinks with strawberries, strawberries and raspberries. Of course, their useful substances are lost when heated, and therefore they only add a berry flavor to the drink, their utility is no longer in question.

Mulled wine with white wine

White mulled wine has an exquisite 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 make classic mulled wine at home from white wine. To do this, you will need:

1. Dry white wine - liter.
2. Carnation - five sticks.
3. Cinnamon is one stick.
4. Lemon or orange - 1 pc.
5. Honey, cardamom, sugar.
6. Vanilla.
7. Ginger root.

In the dishes you need to pour the wine, adding spices and honey. Then put on a small fire, and stirring to wait for the appearance of small bubbles. Then remove from the flame and add a slice of orange and lemon. Cover the mixture with a lid and wait until it is infused. Strain, you can pour into glasses. You only need to drink mulled wine with hot and very small sips.

The recipe for a white drink is huge, so if you want to, when preparing mulled wine at home, you can try out different options by selecting 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 necessarily be natural. You can buy it in the store, and you can also use your own product. It is quite possible to cook mulled wine from house wine, if it's quality and you have to taste.

Instead of an afterword

Mulled wine is a wonderful drink with a rich history. It is simply indispensable for cold winter and autumn evenings. Preparing and drinking this drink may well be a good reason for inviting friends to spend an evening in a pleasant and warm company. As you have seen, there are a lot of options for mulled wine, as well as varieties of wines and spices. So, the taste of mulled wine will always be new, because there is something to experiment with.