Mulled wine - warm in the spring, fall and winter

One of the most interesting drinks that are used not only aesthetic, but also a very practical purpose - to keep warm in the cold weather in the fall, winter or spring, a mulled wine. Everyone is familiar with the positive properties of this wonderful "drug", acting as a great preventive remedy for colds, as well as warming and giving the most positive emotions.

Word mulled translated from German as "flaming, hot wine." This amazing drink appeared in the Middle Ages and was very popular in Central and Northern Europe. Interestingly, a similar drink prepared in ancient Rome: there simply wine mixed with spices without heating. Perhaps the idea was born out of the Roman mulled wine recipe, and a modern version of the recipe in the Middle Ages it was the rebirth. But be that as it may, today mulled wine is one of the most popular drinks warming - in the cold season it is cooked in a variety of countries around the world.

It is believed that mulled wine is one of the best drinks to recover from infectious diseases and the prevention of colds and runny nose, it is useful to drink with colds, coughs, mental and physical exhaustion, depression and even insomnia.

Known to consume a small amount of good wine has a medicinal effect on the body. Red wine has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties due to the content of flavonoids (in wine there are more than citrus fruits, green tea, onions) and resveratrol, blocking inflammation. Therefore, we can conclude that in the off-season in spring and autumn, as well as during the cold winter is no more useful drink that can not only prevent colds, but also give warmth, comfort and good mood. And just drink this useful and pleasant, then learn how to cook it properly will certainly need it!

Good mulled wine: the right components

Classic components of mulled wine - a dry or semi-dry red wine rather weak and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, star anise, ginger, honey and lemon peel. Also in this drink can be added or fragrant black pepper, cardamom, bay leaf, the pervasive practice of adding mulled various fruits and berries, nuts.

Of course, the most important thing - to choose the right wine for mulled wine.

The use for the preparation of the drink expensive vintage wines - a bad taste!

Beverage connoisseurs believe that the best option - use dry or semi-dry red wine, young and light with an alcohol content of 7 to 12.5%.

Dessert wines, as well as other sweet and too strong wines better not to use - a mulled wine will give too much alcohol. To regulate the sweetness and strength beverage is better to use sweeteners (honey or sugar) and spirits (brandy, rum, etc..).

For the preparation of tasty and quality of mulled wine, you can use the following wines sold in our supermarkets:

• Cheap Argentine and Chilean wines (sold in cardboard boxes);
• Dry red table wine - Cabernet, Kindzmarauli, Merlot, Saperavi;
• Semi-sweet and semi-dry red wines - Cahors, Hvanchkara.

As for spices, they should not be milled - or drink will squeak on the teeth. Cinnamon - in the sticks, cloves - in buds and pepper - beans and TL But the set of spices that will be used, each defines himself, from my own taste. Add to mulled wine can be the following seasonings:

• Anise, star anise - give the drink licorice flavor and oriental notes;
• Cloves, cinnamon - a classic spice for mulled wine;
• Ginger - warms, it is better to use in the winter;
• Black or allspice - its flavor when cooking becomes more intense, but at the same bitterness leaves, it can be safely added for flavor;
• Bay leaf - it is better to put at the end of cooking to drink was not like the soup;
• Cardamom - when you add citrus mulled wine are no longer used because it has a lemon-eucalyptus flavor;
• Nutmeg - add quite a bit to accentuate the flavors of other spices;
• Saffron - improves the color and enhances the taste of the drink, add 1 pinch;
• Coriander - gives classic mulled wine taste new notes;
• Medicines and herbs (mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort, willow-herb, and others.) - Will give the drink a special summer and Slavic notes;
• Fruits (apples, citrus fruits, apricots, plums, peaches) - for a richer flavor beverage use seasonal fruits, can also be added to the exotic variations kiwi, pineapple and banana;
• Lemon or lime - add better when drink made from sweet and wines;
• Dried fruits - add a bit to drink is not turned into a compote;
• Nuts (hazelnuts, almonds) - give a pleasant bitterness;
• Juices - you can add orange, apple, lemon, cherry;
• Sugar and honey - for 1l visible add 4-5 tbsp .;
• Berries (blueberries, cranberries, black currants, and others.) - Used as a supplement;
• Strong alcohol (rum, brandy, vodka, port wine, liqueurs or cordials) - with the addition of such drinks need to make sure that the alcohol concentration has not turned out too strong.

How to cook a tasty and healthy mulled wine

Mulled wine can be prepared only on wine or wine with water. In the second case in the pan first mixed water and spices: spices cover with cold water and bring to a boil, boil for 5-7 minutes, then add honey or sugar and the last - the wine. Water need to take 1 liter of wine 150-200 ml. After adding wine drink languishing on low heat until the disappearance of white foam from the surface.

If cooking liquor only at fault, then mulled preparation procedure is as follows: in the wine added all spices and additives, including honey or sugar, and it is heated at moderate heat to 70 degrees with occasional stirring to until the surface did not disappear white foam.

Subtleties of cooking a delicious mulled wine

• Cloves better to add in this way: insert the buds in a little lemon with thin skin, let it marinated 1:00, put the lemon with cloves in the drink - so cloves and lemon give it its full flavor;
• Never boil mulled wine - this drink should languish on low heat until until no white foam, which appeared at the beginning of cooking, heat the drink can be up to a maximum of 70 degrees;
• When you add hot water (if a prescription is necessary to add the hot water), it must be boiled before use, add water to be on the edge - so you save a bunch of wine;
• Before use, the better to give the drink a brew for about 40 minutes.

Recipe preparation mulled wine honey

You will need: 1 bottle dry red wine on? apple and orange, clove buds 12, 5 peas allspice, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 tablespoons honey.

How to cook mulled wine. Fruit cut into slices, put in a saucepan, pour in the wine, put spices and honey, mix well. On low heat to heat up to 70 degrees without letting boil.

Cooking recipe lemon mulled wine

You will need: 280 ml water, 240 ml red wine, 120 grams of sugar, 100 ml of rum, 1 lemon and orange.

How to cook mulled wine with rum. With? cut lemon peel, put it in a pan, add water and sugar and cook for 10 minutes, then strain, pour the liquid into the wine and the juice squeezed lemon, warm, add the rum. Orange put in a drink when applying.

Recipe soft mulled wine

You will need: 3 cups apple / grape juice? glass of water, 2 tablespoons orange and lemon peel, raisins, 2 slices of apple, 1 tsp cinnamon? tsp cloves, a pinch of ginger, cardamom and allspice.

How to cook a soft mulled wine. In a saucepan pour nealyuminievuyu juice and water, add the rest of the components, stir over low heat to heat up to 80 degrees, stirring and boiling. Before serving, let stand 5 minutes.