To keep you warm in those cold days: mulled apple juice (hot cider)

Photo by Juta Kübarsepp for the January 2014 issue of Kodu ja Aed magazine (I made the drink and modelled for the photo :))

Do you love mulled wine or glögg or vin chaud or Glühwein? I do. However, once Christmas is behind us, I don't fancy red wine based mulled drinks - they simply feel too, well, Christmassy. However, this mulled apple drink is perfect for winter, and a great alternative to your regular mulled wine. And should you plan a winter walk and a small picnic, you can make a batch and put into your favourite thermos bottle!

I use cinnamon and ginger, and sometimes add star anise - feel free to play with different spices. My version is non-alcoholic, but feel free to add some calvados or rum or cognac to it ;)

Mulled apple glögg (non-alcholic)
(Alkoholivaba õunaglögi)
 Serves 6


Photo by Pille Petersoo for Nami-Nami

1 litre of good apple juice, homemade or bought
1 cinnamon stick
thumb-sized piece of ginger root
1-2 star anise (optional)
soft brown sugar or honey (optional)

Gently heat the apple juice in a saucepan. Add the cinnamon stick and peeled ginger (no need to chop, though of course you can do that), as well as the star anise. Cover and let infuse for about 15 minutes on a very low heat.

Pour through a sieve and serve in heat-tolerant glasses or mugs, sweeten with brown sugar or honey, if you wish.