With the cold wintery days coming and Christmas and New Year just around the corner, there is nothing like enjoying a nice hot beverage to warm you up. Whether you’re having it with family and friends or alone, cozy while reading a book, here are some of the most popular winter drinks around Europe.
1. Mulled Wine
Let’s start with a winter drink that is actually very popular all around the world – there is nothing like the scent and taste of the mulled wine on a cold winter day. Usually the drink is a combination of red wine, sugar, citrus and spices such as cloves or cinnamon with sometimes a brown spirit added such as rum. There are many local versions from Glühwein in Germany to glogg in Norway but whichever you choose, we are sure you will enjoy it.
2. Feuerzangenbowle
For everyone who likes mulled wine but would like to try a bit more festive version, Feuerzangenbowle is the drink to try. Usually served during Christmas and New Year times in Germany, especially in Munich and Nuremberg that even have Feuerzangebowle festivals, the drink is a mixture of many delicious ingredients prepared with care. The wine stewed with spices like star anice, cardamom and vanilla is mixed with almonds and oranges. The final touch is topping it with a large sugar cone then set ablaze – not only delicious but also beautiful to watch.
3. Irish Coffee
If any of the winter cocktails is connected to traveling, Irish coffee has a really interesting story behind its creation. It is said that, after some passengers were left at the airport hungry and tired, a chef at the airport restaurant, Joe Sheridan, served them a drink he created from coffee, whiskey, brown sugar and freshly whipped cream. Since then, the drink has become world famous and bartenders all over the world love to play with the ingredients and make their own creations.
4. Hot Toddy
One of the most traditional drinks that you can find in Scotland is definitely hot toddy. The Scottish are very proud of their winter drink made of a mix of tea, water, honey spices and whiskey, adding also some new ingredients like apple juice, cinnamon and smokey vodka. Named after Tod’s Well, a spring in Edinburgh from which it is said that the water for the first beverages came, the drink is considered to be good as a cure for a cold or a flu.
5. Grog
Though the term ‘grog’ in ancient times described any liquor cut with water, the grog nowadays mostly describes a drink that British sailors used to warm up – a mix of rum, hot water citrus and sugar. Now most popular in Germany and Sweden and with its variety when mixed with tea in Belgium and France, you can try it around the Christmas markets throughout Europe.
6. Hot mulled cider
If you find yourself in London on an cold winter day, be sure to try a delicious hot mulled cider. Traditionally made from the heated apple cider with different spices like nutmeg, citrus orange, cloves and cinnamon, it’s a perfect drink on a cold day whether you are home alone or having a party with your friends. Many pubs pride themselves in their own versions of this drink and even have secret recipes.
7. Aguonų pienas
A special drink is served also in Lithuania, usually as an end to the traditional Christmas dinners. Aguonų pienas is a traditional non-alcoholic drink that is made from poppy seeds softened in hot water for a couple of days, then crushed and sweetened with sugar or honey. Used as a dessert, it will be usually served with little poppy seed cookies kūčiukai.
8. Eggnog
There’s no beverage that says Christmas in movies like the eggnog. One of the most classical Christmas drinks, it is believed that it was invented by monks in Britain in the 13th century. The traditional ingredients of an eggnog include whipped eggs, milk, sugar and nutmeg. This popular Christmas drink can be served both hot and cold and, to add a bit of kick to it, you can also add a bit of alcohol.
9. Hot chocolate
At the end, we can’t not mention one of the most popular winter drinks not only in Europe but all around the world – hot chocolate. There many different recipes and almost everyone has their own favourite version and some secret ingredient for it. Whether you are having it in a cafe, outside in the market wit or at home, there is nothing quite like enjoying a cup of delicious hot chocolate on a cold winter day.
