Name: Mulled Wine with Orange and Cinnamon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 1 pot
Ingredients: 750 ml red wine; 1 pc oranges; 1 pc lemon; 2 pcs cinnamon; 6 pcs cloves; 3 pcs allspice; 3 tablespoons caster sugar; 1 pc star anise; 1 tablespoon honey; 4 slices oranges; cinnamon

Step by step process

Preparing the Citrus

1
Thoroughly wash the orange and lemon with hot water and pat them dry to remove any wax and impurities from the peel.
2
Using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, cut thin strips of peel from the orange and lemon, being careful not to include the white bitter pith.
TIP:
Peel only the thin colored layer of zest, not the white layer (albedo), it is bitter and spoils the taste. Use a microplane or a sharp knife with minimal pressure.
3
Cut both the orange and lemon in half, then squeeze their juice directly into the pot you will use to prepare the mulled wine.

Making the Mulled Wine

4
Pour the red wine into the pot, add the squeezed orange and lemon juice, strips of peel, whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and star anise to taste.
5
Add the granulated sugar and optionally a tablespoon of honey for a deeper flavor. stir everything briefly with a wooden spoon.
6
Place the pot over low heat and slowly warm the wine for approximately 15-20 minutes, but NEVER let it boil, the temperature should not exceed 80 °C, otherwise the alcohol will evaporate and the flavor will turn bitter.
TIP:
Heat slowly below 80°C, the wine must not boil. Higher temperatures destroy aromatic notes and the taste becomes bitter. Without a thermometer, watch until the wine steams and is hot to the touch, never let it bubble.
7
Occasionally taste the mulled wine and add more sugar or honey as needed until you achieve a well-balanced flavor between sweetness, acidity, and spice.
8
Remove the finished mulled wine from the heat and let it rest covered for another 5 minutes so the flavors of the spices meld together beautifully.

Serving

9
Strain the mulled wine through a fine sieve into heatproof glasses with handles or thick-walled mugs to remove the spices and pieces of peel.
10
Place a fresh slice of orange in each glass and garnish with a whole cinnamon stick, which will beautifully scent the drink as you sip.
11
Serve immediately while hot, ideally accompanied by Christmas cookies, gingerbread, or roasted chestnuts.

More tips:

Use a medium-bodied dry red wine (Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon), sweet or dessert wines would be cloying when combined with added sugar.

If you want to give the mulled wine an extra kick, add a shot of dark rum or brandy at the end directly into each glass rather than into the pot, this way the alcohol retains its full strength and aroma.

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