Mulled wine is one of the fundamental counterparts of Christmas in Prague and in the Czech Republic in general. It’s not only the delicious sweet taste that warms up our hearts during this cold season but also the unique aroma of its mixture of spices that transmits the unmistakable message – the holiday season is here!
Non-Alcoholic Version Available!
Even if you’re not into alcohol, we have an equally appetizing variation with apple juice that will satisfy your taste buds and install the Christmas spirit like nothing else. We bet your kids will appreciate this alternative as well. The recipe is so simple you can even prepare it together with your little ones!
Here’s What You’ll Need to Make Czech Mulled Wine:
- 1 bottle of wine of your choice (or apple juice for non-alcoholic version)
- 1/2 cup of water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 15 cloves
- 3 star anises
- 1.5 tbsp vanilla sugar
- 1/2 lemon, peeled and chopped into half-slices
- 1/2 orange, peeled and chopped into half-slices
- 1 tbsp raisins
- sugar/honey (optional)
When preparing the mulled wine, remember to first add water, spices, and sugar to the pot and boil them for a moment – that way you will get all the delicious flavor and aroma without sacrificing the alcohol content of the wine. This will become the flavor base of our delicious drink.
When the sugar starts caramelizing, it is time to add the wine (or apple juice for the kids!), oranges, lemon, and raisins. Warm the wine up, but don’t let it boil! After all, getting tipsy is a part of the experience as well.
And now, the most important part – once you are familiar with the method, feel free to play with different spices and find out what mulled wine is YOUR favorite. You have the whole Christmas season (and, frankly, the rest of the winter) to figure it out – and we are keeping our fingers crossed!
If you enjoyed this special holiday recipe, check out how to prepare our favorite kind of Czech Christmas cookies called “vanilla crescents.”
