Christmas Drinkable Potion: Magical Glühwein
Christmas is fast approaching, and it's the time of the year when I get to make one of my favorite alcoholic beverages: Glühwein!
Glühwein (literally "glow wine" ) is mulled wine traditionally served in Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria. It is named like that because when you drink it, it gives you a nice "glow" (that's one theory at least). Since it contains a number of ingredients commonly used in magic, it makes an excellent drinkable potion to bring luck, love and money to you and your loved ones, essentially giving everyone a magical "glow" too.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that if you subscribe to a service or buy something, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). For more details read our Privacy Policy or click here to learn how this blog makes money.
YOU WILL NEED
Glühwein ingredients
A bottle of dry red wine (not very cheap, but not the most expensive you can find either)
A stick of cinnamon (love, passion)
6 cloves (friendship)
A whole nutmeg (good luck in money matters, especially games of chance)
Star Anise (protection from the evil eye, psychic visions and dreams)
1 Orange (good luck, love)
1 Lemon (removes negativity, bad luck, anything unwanted)
1/3 cup Sugar (sweetens others to you, draws all kinds of things)
METHOD
General note: I like to talk to each ingredient, thanking it for the powers it brings to my potion. So as you add each ingredient, thank it for what it brings. If you have a different method feel free to go with that of course.
Wash the orange and the lemon, then grate them, being careful to only grate the outer layer (the deeper white part is the pith and is bitter, so make sure not to go that deep). Then juice the orange.
In your pot put the sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and about 15 gratings of nutmeg.
Glühwein Preparation
Add the orange and lemon gratings, the orange juice and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Add a small amount of the wine. You don't want to put the whole wine because the spices need to cook in high heat for all the aromas to blend with the wine, and if you add the whole bottle then the alcohol will evaporate.
Stir and cook for about 10 minutes, until you have a nice thick syrup.
Turn the heat to low, add the rest of the wine, stir and heat it gently until it is warm but not boiling (again, you don't want to burn the alcohol off). Put the lid on the pot and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
Strain and serve in cups or glasses you have pre-heated in warm water, or store in a bottle. In the photo, you can
A sample from my collection of Glühwein cups from different Christmas markets in Vienna, captured in my phone's crappy camera.
And now that you have a tasty magical beverage, you are all set to sigilize your letter to Santa.
Bottoms up!
