Glühwein, Glühweinpunsch, and Kinderpunsch or German Mulled wine

Glühwein is a German Mulled or Spiced Wine much like the one you would fine here in merry old England at Christmas time. In fact I think what we think of as mulled wine came for Germany any way with Prince Albert who brought so many traditions over to Briton when he was married to Queen Victoria.

You will need

1lt of red wine

Glass of  water

 2 gasses of rum

1 glass of brandy

2 Cinnamon Sticks

10 whole cloves

1 orange

1 lemon

A vanilla pod

2 Star Anise

2 Cardomom Pods

4 slices Fresh ginger

Cut the zest off the lemon and orange then squeeze out the juice then add the juice and water to a small pan. Add to the water all the spices and bring to the boil and then just turn of the heat and let everything infuse in the water.

Now in a large pan add the water and spices, the red wine and the zest from the orange and lemon. Heat very gently so it is warm. Add the rum and the brandy and you are ready to serve. If you have some rap the spices in a little muslin cloth to stop them from floating about all over the place. 

Glühweinpunsch is a mulled white wine punch also drank at Christmas time but this is a white wine drink, for a change.

For this you will need

1lt sweet white wine

2 glass of  Apricot brandy

2 cups Apple juice

1 Cinnamon stick

The sliced zest of 1 Orange

The sliced zest of 1 Lemon

3-4 Cloves

This time start by heating up the cloves and cinnamon in the apple juice then add the white wine and zest. Heat slowly and finally add the apricot brandy. Do not add the orange juice or lemon juice as it goes rather cloudy and just looks bad.

Kinderpunsch this is easy just take out the wine and spirits and add red or white grape juice for the kids. Or try cranberry juice as well.