The name Wassail might sound familiar to you from the term “wassailing” as in “Here we go a-wassailing.” Wassail is actually a type of mulled drink, usually made with cider, spices, and sometimes brandy. It was an integral part of the ancient English Yuletide tradition of Wassailing. People would go door to door, spreading charity and good cheer while sharing bowls of Wassail, thus ensuring a bountiful apple harvest for the following year. In recent years, Wassail has been making a comeback as a spiced fruit punch (again sometimes with brandy). Steaming cups of Wassail can give your holiday celebration a Medieval touch, and the scent of apple and spices will fill your home with cheer!
On the Ingredients
- Apples originally came from Central Asia, but they have been cultivated in Asia and Europe for centuries before being brought to America by European colonists. Apples grown from seeds are very different from their parent trees, so to maintain desirable varieties, apple trees are grafted, meaning each apple tree is a clone of the tree that initially produced that variety of apples. The term “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” may be wishful thinking, but apples are very nutrient-dense, containing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. (Read more about apples.)
- Mulling spices are a combination of spices used for mulled wine, mulled cider, wassail, or hippocras. These drinks are commonly enjoyed during late autumn and winter and are served hot. Mulling spices usually include cinnamon, peppercorns, nutmeg, ginger root, cloves, star anise, and sometimes cardamom, allspice, and orange peel.
Hot Wassail
4
servings5
minutes45
minutes50
minutesThe name Wassail might sound familiar to you from the term “wassailing” as in “Here we go a-wassailing.” Wassail is actually a type of mulled drink, usually made with cider, spices, and sometimes brandy. It was an integral part of the ancient English Yuletide tradition of Wassailing. People would go door to door, spreading charity and good cheer while sharing bowls of Wassail, thus ensuring a bountiful apple harvest for the following year. In recent years, Wassail has been making a comeback as a spiced fruit punch (again sometimes with brandy). Steaming cups of Wassail can give your holiday celebration a Medieval touch, and the scent of apple and spices will fill your home with cheer!
Ingredients
4 cups apple cider
2 oranges juiced
1/2 lemon juiced
2 tbsp mulling spices
- Optional
1/4 cup brandy
Directions
- Place all the ingredients (besides the optional brandy) in a large pot and bring to a low boil.
- Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30-45 minutes.
- Strain out the spices and add brandy (if using).
- Reheat before serving.
