Glögg: A Warm, Sweet and Spicy Christmas Wine

Glögg is a traditional drink from Sweden and Finland, prepared and served in the weeks leading up to Christmas. With little sunlight and freezing temperatures in Scandinavia at this time of year, this warm, sweet and spicy drink is a great way to lift spirits and keep warm! Glögg – which can be roughly translated to mean “glow” – is a variant of many historical mulled wines that can be found around the world.

Recipe for 1.5 liters

Ingredients:

1 bottle (750ml) red wine

0.5 l inexpensive brandy (Swedish aquavit, a caraway flavored vodka, popular in Scandinavia, can also be used)

10 cardamom pods

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 orange peel

220 g sugar

Cloves, raisins, cup almonds, dried figs (optional)

Raisins or almonds (to garnish)

Method:

In a pot on the stove, heat the wine, brandy, spices and fruit (and any optional additions you might like), making sure the mixture doesn’t boil. Let the mixture simmer gently for 45 minutes. Strain.

To serve:

Serve the glögg hot over lumped sugar (to taste), ideally in small coffee cups or small Swedish-style glögg mugs. You can also add more brandy! Garnish with a few raisins and almonds.

To store:

Bottled glögg can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. Aging enhances the flavors. For a nonalcoholic version, you can use water or orange juice instead of brandy, and grape juice for the wine.