Amidst the mad rush of shopping, wrapping, and partying, it’s soothing and comforting to curl up with a mug of a warm, spicy-scented drink. The holidays would definitely not be the same without its lovely hot drinks. Spiced cider and mulled wine both owe their warm, cozy flavors to a group of spices known as mulling spices. Mulling is actually a centuries-old practice of infusing fruit and spice essences into heated drinks.
Have a tough decision to make? Try ‘mulling it over’ for a while, or ‘let it stew’ in the back of your mind. Both of these common phrases have been traced to the practice of mulling spices. You can find many recipes for mulling spices, but the most common include allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, and different dried fruit peels. Take a look at this page to see more choices: Mulling Spices.
There are actually a couple of ways you can infuse the beverage of your choice with the spices. One of the easiest is to gather them in a cheesecloth bag and simmer them in wine, cider, or fruit juice. The essences of the mulling spices create a complex undertone of spicy and citrus flavors, which complement the basic fruit elements of the mulled beverage. Once the cheesecloth bag has been removed, serve to your guests. A cinnamon stick stirrer adds a festive touch!
You’ve probably heard of the Christmas carol “Here We Go A’Wassailing.” It’s actually a drinking song! Wassail is one of the earliest spiced beverages, and the English would toast to good fortune in the new year. The traditional recipe included alcohol like wine or brandy. Another way to enjoy the same wonderful scents is to make a pomander ball. Push whole cloves into an orange until covered, roll the fruit in a dish of cinnamon, wrap with cheesecloth, and let it dry in a cool, dark place for about two-three weeks. Tie with festive ribbon and hang for an old-fashioned holiday decoration!
Here at Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, we have potlucks and parties to celebrate the holidays. It’s fun to bring in a crock pot and let the cider simmer for a few hours, filling the whole house with the rich, warm scent. I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year and can’t wait to try this! Keep the cider warm and add the spices in the cheesecloth. Your home will smell so inviting! Click here to see our Mulling Spices.
For even more wonderful scents, try our Home Scent Diffusers. The Balsam Tree and Pumpkin Pie scents are already popular. The Corn Cob tapers smell faintly of Chestnut, Cinnamon or Vanilla and would look festive as part of a centerpiece. Our Gift Basket contains scented starters for starting a fragrant fire in the hearth. For wonderful sweets to go with your spiced cider, try our Gingerbread, Sugar Cookie, and Cake gift sets. Don’t forget to enjoy quiet times with a Holiday Mug of cider!
Slainte – Gaelic word for Cheers!
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