Classic Homemade Mulled Wine

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   Gather the ingredients from the list: dry red wine, an orange, cinnamon, cloves, mint, ground ginger, nutmeg, anise, sugar, and water. Dry and semi-dry red table wines are ideal for mulled wine. Some recipes use cognac or rum. You can adjust the blend of spices to taste. Wash the orange and cut it into thin slices or half-moons, peel and all.

2. Step 2:

   

   Put the spices, orange, and rinsed mint leaves (you can use dried mint instead of fresh) into a pot or other metal vessel, pour in the water, and set it over the heat. Mulled wine is typically flavored with cinnamon, cloves, lemon peel, star anise, honey, and ginger. You can also use black pepper, allspice, bay leaf, and cardamom, and even add apples, raisins, or nuts.

3. Step 3:

   

   Bring it to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Turn off the heat. Instead of sugar, if you have no allergy to it, you can use honey; in that case add the honey to the spiced liquid after turning off the heat, and don't heat it too much, so the vitamins and nutrients in it aren't destroyed. Cover the pot with the mixture and let it stand for 10 minutes so the spices release their aroma fully.

4. Step 4:

   

   Strain the mixture through a sieve lined with several layers of cheesecloth. The drink needs to be filtered well, or the powdery spices will grate on your teeth.

5. Step 5:

   

   Pour the spiced infusion back into a metal vessel, add the red wine, and set it over the heat. The key is to warm the mixture through without letting it boil, or the drink will lose its flavor and some of its alcohol. Turn off the heat. Pour the drink into cups and serve. Enjoy!