A Taste of Christmas
We were cold; yet the Christmas market was in full swing. Then we saw the stall selling Glühwein . Drinking the hot spicy wine soon warmed us for more shopping with the knowledge that we would go back for more as soon as we tired.
Glühwein is a warm winter German version of sangria; it tasted like Christmas spices. We also discovered that every area has their own jealously guarded recipe. And no matter who made the recipe they all tasted so good!.
The basics are red wine, spices, sweetening and fruit, heated to together to diffuse the flavours and served warm to bring relief to hands that cup it and bodies that drink it.
But if you can't get to a Christkringle Market you can easily make your very own Glühwein.
Ingredients: Makes around 8 servings
• 1 bottle of red wine. Use an inexpensive full bodied fruity wine. You definitely do not want to use an expensive bottle and try to avoid one with oak aging. I think a Gallo Ruby Cabernet would be ideal. Or a red Zinfandel or Syrah - Shiraz.
• 2 - Cinnamon sticks – Cinnamon is very traditional. Break the sticks into pieces 1 – 2 inches each
• 16 Whole Cloves – again a traditional ingredient
• 1 Orange
• 2 Tablespoons runny honey
• 1 heaped teaspoon mixed ground Christmas cake spices – or equivalent amount of any of ground allspice, nutmeg, coriander mixed together
• Water – wineglass full
Mix all together in a crock pot and enjoy.
