Elle's Kitchen: Gluhwein

Hot Mulled Wine

In the Christmas Markets of Europe,

Gluhwein is the most popular drink.

As you stroll the markets, looking

at the products for sale, you can

become quite chilled and work

up a thirst...

Mr. Wonderful and I decided we

needed to do some research and

sampled the gluhwein all the way

along the Danube from Budapest

to Munich.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

cinnamon sticks

orange

cloves

red wine

Combine water, sugar and cinnamon

and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to a

simmer.  Cut orange in half and squeeze,

add juice to the pot.  Push cloves into orange

rind and add to the pot.  Simmer 3o minutes

until thick and syrupy.  Add wine and keep

on a very low heat. 

For a party, it would be best to transfer to

a crock pot on the lowest setting so it would

maintain a low heat.

At each Christmas Market, you pay

a price for the mug filled with gluhwein.

When you need a refill you can reuse the

mug and pay a small fee for more gluhwein.

Then you can return the mug for a refund

or keep it as a souvenir.  I know some people

who collect the mugs from each market they

visit.  These days, with airline weight limits,

I'd rather fill up my luggage with Hungarian

fabric, Bavarian mustard and marzipan.

Gluhwein is the most popular drink

at European Christmas Markets. 

You can also get it mit schuss

(with a shot) of rum or liqueur.

Mr. Wonderful loves gluhwein but I

must admit I prefer the hot cocoa

spiked with rum ~ nummmm.

This is a lovely beverage to enjoy

in front of  the fire on a cold evening

but I would also recommend enjoying

it in front of a palace in Vienna!