The story behind having Mulled Wine on Christmas

With less than a week to go for Christmas, it’s finally that time of the year when you decorate the Christmas tree, gorge on plum cakes, have a grand celebration with your dear ones, sing carols and sip on a glass of mulled wine. This spicy drink has been synonymous with Christmas since ages and has been traditionally an intrinsic part of the celebration. Read on to know what exactly is mulled wine and how it got associated with Christmas.

This festive beverage is usually made by mixing red wine with various spices, berries and raisins. The traditional preparation involves whole spices like cinnamon, which is known to have medicinal benefits. This sugary-spicy beverage has been an integral part of Christmas celebrations since the 2nd century A.D.

In the 'Christmas Compendium' by J. John, a comprehensive compilation of the A - Z of Christmas, he writes about the connection between mulled wine and the harsh winters of Europe and Middle-East Asia.

"Mulled wines have a long history. In medieval times they were called ypocras' or hipocris', named after the physician Hippocrates. They were thought to be very healthy, and indeed with wine at that time being far more sanitary than water, these heated drinks in all likelihood did keep people healthy through the cold winters."

The book also mentions that the first written documentation of mulled wines was around the 14th century A.D.

It is said that Mulled Wine was created by the Romans and the Greeks, who used to heat wine and spices to it to shield their bodies against the chilly weather. It originated in the 2nd century and spread across regions in no time. It soon became a festive staple as people used to make this flavourful drink during winter months only. They used to prepare this drink, especially during Christmas, while enjoying the festival with their friends and family. Soon this became a tradition and is being followed till date.

The love for mulled wine grew enormously throughout the middle ages. Europeans gave the drink their own unique twist by adding herbs and flowers for that extra sweetness. Many countries came up with their own variations to the traditional drink. For example, Sweden's Christmas favourite Glogg, which is a term used for mulled wine in the Nordic countries. The main ingredients of alcoholic glogg are red wine, sugar, bitter orange along with herbs

Ingredients required- 2 bottles of red wine, 2 shots of port wine, 2 oranges that have been cut into slices and stuffed with cloves, 1 tsp nutmeg powder, 1 tsp cinnamon powder, 3-4 tbsp brown sugar.

Method-

1. Add all the ingredients in a big pan.
2. Keep on low flame for the next 15 minutes and let the spices brew along with wines.
3. Make sure you do not boil the liquid, as it will lead to the evaporation of alcohol. (Tip: You can cover the pan with a lid)
4. Once done, strain the mulled wine, pour into glasses and enjoy a warm and spicy mulled wine.