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
Wash the orange and lemon thoroughly with hot water and pat them dry. Their peel is the key to a great result - remove all wax and impurities from the skin.
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 15-20 minutes. NEVER let it boil - the temperature must stay below 80 degrees C, otherwise the alcohol evaporates and the flavor turns 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
Taste occasionally and adjust sugar or honey until the flavor is balanced between sweetness, acidity, and spice.
8
Remove from heat and let it rest covered for 5 minutes. The spice flavors will meld beautifully.

Serving

9
Strain through a fine sieve into heatproof glasses with handles or thick-walled mugs. This removes the spices and peel.
10
Drop a fresh orange slice into each glass and add a cinnamon stick for garnish - it scents 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 (Blaufranckisch, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) - sweet or dessert wines would be cloying when combined with added sugar.

For an extra kick, add a shot of dark rum or brandy directly into each glass at the end - not into the pot. This keeps the full alcohol strength and aroma.

Share on:

Aromatic Recipes Comfort Food Recipes Warming Recipes Well-Spiced Recipes Warming Recipes for Cold Days Winter Recipes