With the coming of the new year, it's time for holidays and fun get-together parties. To add a little variety to the festive table, try to prepare traditional winter drinks from different countries around the globe.
Christmas Punch
Christmas punch (from Old English, Wassail – be healthy) is a winter drink with a cider and ale base. Despite the fact that the tradition to prepare punch for Christmas originated in England in the 15th century, this drink is very popular in the country to this day. Instead of cider and ale, you can also use wine and rum to make a Christmas punch. However, it is important to remember that traditional punch should always contain fresh fruit, such as apples, pears, oranges, tangerines or lemons.
Glogg
Glogg is very similar to mulled wine, but its roots are traced back to Scandinavia. The base of glogg is dry red wine, cinnamon and cloves. However, traditional feature of authentic Scandinavian recipies is the addition of a small amount of vodka, almonds and raisins to the drink. Glogg is most often drunk to keep warm while walking around at Christmas fairs and eating biscuits with cinnamon.
Glögg – a favourite winter drink of the Swedes
Egg-nog
Egg-nog is a Christmas drink in the USA and Canada. The non-alcoholic beverage contains a mixture of eggs, milk and sugar. Those who like "hotter versions" add alcohol to their liking: rum, brandy or bourbon. Egg-nog can be decorated with whipped cream or custard, and then sprinkled with grated chocolate and cinnamon.
Cola de Mono
Chile has its own Egg-nog. Cola de mono is made with vodka, coffee, milk and spices. Grated nutmeg and vanilla are often added. And while in most European countries Christmas drinks are traditionally drunk hot, Chilean egg-nog must be served cold.
Egg Nog has been prepared for Christmas for over 300 years
Coquito
Another festive beverage comes from Puerto Rico this time. Coquito includes spicy rum, coconut milk and cream, condensed milk, vanilla, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. A truly nice cold cream dessert.
Cruchon
If during Christmas holidays you will suddenly feel like tasting an exquisite French drink, try cruchon. As a base, champagne is taken (you can replace it with sparkling wine). You can also add cognac or rum, orange, lemon and sugar. To make it sweeter, add fruit liqueur or syrup.
Sparkling wines added to cruchon as base make it especially zesty
Mulled wine
A traditional drink from Austria and Germany, which has gained popularity all over the world. As a rule, mulled wine is prepared from dry red wine and spices, but some southern countries have come up with their own modification – mulled wine with a white wine base. A nice non-alcoholic mulled wine is made with grape juice or black currants. To learn more about the preparation of mulled wine, read here.
Cider
The winter version of cider is very popular in New England (the northeast of the USA) and outside the region. This light alcoholic drink, by and large, is very similar to mulled wine – the same set of spices will be perfect for the beverage. While heating cider, add orange and a little sugar. To make it stronger, add a little cognac or brandy.