Today’s spotlight is in Hot Mulled Cider.

Hot mulled cider, a traditional drink made from heated apple cider with various spices added, including citrus orange, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

Hot mulled cider, is a traditional drink that’s been enjoyed during winter festivities for as long as mulled wine. It’s often served during the fall holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

Mulled cider is a non-alcoholic version of mulled wine. It’s made by pouring cider into a vessel on the stove, adding spices, flavorings, and sometimes alcohol. You can plan for two cups of cider per person, but you can make extra and store it in the fridge for up to three days. Mulled cider has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. It also contains antioxidants, which may protect your cells against free radicals.

The months of September, October, and November are known as “Cider Season”. During this time, apple orchards harvest their crops, cideries press and ferment, and restaurants showcase local culinary gems. Mulled cider has been drunk during winter festivities for at least as long as mulled wine. The combination of spices varies, but it usually consists of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. It also usually includes dried fruit, such as raisins, apples, or orange rind.

 

History

Hot mulled cider has been around for at least as long as mulled wine. It may have originated from the old tradition drink wassail, which was a medieval Christmastide pagan ritual in England.  Wassail was a hot mulled cider made from roasted apples, mulled ale, curdled cream, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and sugar. The word “wassail” comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase “waes hael”, which means “good health”.

The earliest record of wassail is from around 1140. Wassailing was a ritual to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. The drink was traditionally drunk as part of wassailing. Hot mulled cider is also known as “mocked mulled wine” because it’s an alcohol-free version of mulled wine. Mulled wine is a hot red wine infused with mulling spices.

 

Here are some interesting facts about cider:

• It takes 36 apples to make one gallon of cider.
• In the 14th century, children were baptized in cider because it was cleaner than water.
• In England, farm workers were paid in cider.
• The cider press was invented in the 14th century.
• Thomas Jefferson grew two varieties of apples specifically for cider making.
• In the 1920s, prohibition outlawed cider consumption.
• In the late 1990s, the taste for craft beer began to grow rapidly.
• In 2012, the Boston Beer Company reintroduced cider nationwide.
• The word cider is first mentioned in Middle English in the 13th century.

Cider is a seasonal drink that is often unpasteurized and unfiltered. It is made by juicing apples and combining them with spices.

 

Here is a Hot Mulled Cider recipe for you to try:

Ingredients:

• 1/2-gallon fresh, unfiltered apple cider (non-alcoholic)
• 1 orange
• 12 whole cloves
• 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
• 15 allspice berries
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 7 whole cardamom pods
• 2 tablespoons unpacked brown sugar.
• Orange slices, for garnish
• Cinnamon sticks, for serving.

 

Instructions:

1. Simmer the apple cider with orange and spices: Pour the apple cider into a 3-quart saucepan, cover, turn the heat on medium-high.
2. While the cider is heating up, take a vegetable peeler and peel away a couple thick strips of peel from the orange. Press about half of the cloves into the peeled part of the orange.
3. Place orange, orange peel strips, the remaining cloves, and the rest of the ingredients into the saucepan with the cider. Keep covered and heat the mulled cider mixture to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.
4. Strain out the orange and spices: Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the hot mulled cider away from the orange, cloves, and other spices.
5. Serve hot. Add an orange slice or cinnamon stick to each cup if desired.
6. Enjoy!

If you want, you can add a touch of bourbon, brandy, or rum to spike it up a bit.

You can store leftover mulled cider in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can reheat the cider over a low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave for about 1 minute.

 

Celebrating Hot Mulled Cider

Hot Mulled Cider Day is celebrated on September 30.  One of the best ways to celebrate this holiday is to find a recipe and make mulled cider yourself! It’s a very easy and simple drink with a lot of flavors. Let us know in the comments if you celebrate Hot Mulled Cider.