Wassail Punch

Wassail is a Christmas tradition dating back to the middle ages that heavily featured this nice hot punch. There was no set recipe, but this one includes all the essential ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle (750ml) mead (Semi-Sweet to dry)
  • 2 cups Fresh Apple Cider
  • 1 Large Orange
  • 4 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 2 Whole Cloves
  • 1 small slice ginger root
  • Pinch of nutmeg

Directions

1. Cut the Orange in half.  Poke the Cloves into the rind of one half. Squeeze the juice from the other half into the pot.

2. Add the Apple Cider and Mead.

3. Add the Cinnamon Sticks, Nutmeg and half orange with cloves to the pot.

4. Slice the ginger root length wise into 4 pieces. Add one piece to the pot.

5. Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Allow to steep for one hour.

6. Serve piping hot.  Yields 8 to 10 servings.

Wassail Punch can be made with alcoholic cider as a substitute for the mead. If you do this, leave out the Fresh Apple Cider and increase the amount of cider by 2 cups. You can also substitute the mead with wine or ale, but the use of mead is traditional.



This recipe uses Tasmanian Mead and Tasmania Apple Cider.

Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to humankind, predating both beer and wine. Throughout history it has been reputed to prolong life, enhance fertility and bestow strength. The Greeks called mead the “nectar of the gods” and claimed it bestowed virility. In the Middle Ages the Anglo-Saxons were convinced it induced creativity. The word “medicine” is derived from the term for spiced meads – Metheglin.