When the winter weather hits Amsterdam there’s only one way to warm. With a glass of gluhwein (glue-wine) or mulled wine, you will see travellers, locals and everyone in between keeping their spirits merry and warm.
While wandering through the holiday markets, seasonal shoppers carry a mug in one hand and their Christmas keepsakes in the other. At the pop-up ice skating rinks that are only open during the holidays, and at all the chilly and cheerful outdoor gatherings, steaming vats of this winter wonder are aplenty.
But you don’t have to be wandering in Amsterdam – or in the winter’s cold! – to enjoy the traditional Dutch drink. Here is an easy to follow recipe to make your own mulled wine at home. Try it on a stormy evening, during the first snowfall or anytime you’re missing the taste of the Dutch capital at Christmastime!
Ingredients:
2 bottle red wine (a cheap Chianti works perfectly here)
250 grams of sugar (more or less to taste)
6 tsp whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
Peel of 1 lemon and 1 lime
Juice of 1 orange
Dash of vanilla
1 whole nutmeg (optional)
Preparation:
Pour the sugar into a large saucepan. Add the lemon and lime peels and squeeze in orange juice. Add cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices. Now, pour just enough wine over the the sugar to coat it. Let it simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until almost boiling – this will help infuse all the delicious spices into a nice syrup. Once it starts to thicken, add the rest of the red wine and turn the heat down and warm for 5 minutes.
Pour into mugs and – for those familiar with the Dutch tradition – add a shot of rum – and enjoy!
Note: It is important that you do not boil the wine – otherwise you burn off the alcohol!
