Essen und Trinken halten Leib und Seel zusammen is a favourite quote in Germany, especially during the winter months; Food and Drink keep Body and Soul Together. Cold weather, and long dark nights there may be, but in Germany their arrival gives ideal grounds to try a whole variety of warm and warming drinks and here are three traditional seasonal recipes.
GLUEHWEIN, A HOT MULLED WINE
Literally Glow Wine and a popular and warming winter drink, not only during Advent, Weihnachten, or at the seasonal Christmas Markets but also when tucked up warmly at home at any time during the cold winter months.
Gluehwein is basically red wine, fruit and spices heated to just below boiling point before drinking, and there are many different recipes, but this one was given me by a friend in the Schwarzwald, The Black Forest, an area where they produce some wonderful wines, and make excellent mulled wine.
Ingredients:
3 Bottles Dry Red Wine (does not have to be brilliant but should be one that you would be happy to drink normally, Gallo Ruby Cabernet, a red zinfandel or a shiraz would all work well)
3 Oranges, untreated if possible otherwise washed very thoroughly
1 Lemon or Lime, untreated if possible otherwise washed very thoroughly
1 Large Apple, untreated if possible otherwise washed very thoroughly
3 Cinnamon sticks
1 Star Anise
10 Cloves
3 Dessert Spoons Raisins
Sugar to taste, Brown is best
Pour wine into a large pan and warm slowly to just below boiling point.
Wash the apple and an orange, cut orange into slices including peel, core and deseed apple cutting into small chunks.
Squeeze the juice from the remaining oranges and the lemon.
Add all the ingredients including the spices, but excluding the sugar, to the warmed wine, and simmer gently for 20 minutes, allow to stand for another 20 minutes then taste.
The cloves, star anise and cinnamon should be removed now if you feel it is spiced enough, and sugar added to taste.
It can be left for a few hours, so it is there and ready for surprise guests, and slowly reheated. It is important though that the liquid never boils, the fruit is removed and the Gluehwein poured into warmed mugs or heat proof glasses.
A shot of Amaretto or Rum can be added as it is served, and is a Weihnachtsmarkt favourite.
Other variations of Gluehwein can be made to this recipe using Raspberry, Blueberry, or Blackberry wines as well as alcohol free wine.
And now Kinderpunsch, Childrens Punch, an alcohol free punch and not only a favourite for children, it is a delicious warming drink for everyone.
KINDERPUNSCH
Ingredients:
1 Litre brewed fruit tea, Blackberry for example
500 ml Apple Juice. It is worth trying apple first but it can also be white or black grape juice
15 Cloves
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 Lemons or Limes
1 untreated orange to use juice and the peel
Brown Sugar
Wash orange thoroughly then peel and juice.
Juice lemons, or limes.
P>ut all ingredients including orange peel into a pan and simmering warm through, do not bring to boil.
Leave for 15 minutes, remove the orange peel and spices, slowly reheat to required temperature with sugar added to taste.
Last but not least a recipe for a Pharisaeer, which is basically coffee and rum but has a great story behind it.
In Germany a Pharisee is another word for a hypocrite, and after a 19th Century vicar in Northern Germany had given strict instructions that no alcohol should be served at a Christening, and then found out it had been, in the guise of coffee where the aroma of the rum had been prevented from escaping by a layer of whipped cream, legend says he shouted out, You Pharisees to the rather 'merry' guests, and so the rum and coffee drink got its name.
PHARISAEER
Ingredients for 4:
1/2 litre good strong coffee
80 ml Rum
Brown sugar
400 gr whipped cream
Put two teaspoons sugar into each of four mugs
After warming the rum pour 20 ml over sugar
Pour hot coffee into mug
Top with whipped cream
The Pharisaeer should not be stirred, just drink it from beneath the mammoth layer of whipped cream as it was all those years ago at that Christening.
Prost!..........And ENJOY.....!
No time to make your own Gluehwein? Then try this mix, it really has the authentic taste, and aroma, of the Gluehwein found at a German Christmas Market. |
Photos Gluehwein courtesy de.Wikipedia, Pharisaeer courtesy Germany-Tourism.de
