After a long winter day, there’s nothing better than kicking back on the sofa with a warm drink while the snow falls (and then falls some more, and some more).
Looking for something new to add to your hot drink repertoire? Here are some warm and tasty winter drinks from around the world. Let’s start with the one in the headline, straight from Sweden.
Glögg And Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a hot or warm red wine with spices and sometimes raisins. It is alcoholic, though you can get a non-alcoholic version. Glögg is a potent drink and is sort of like mulled wine, but in Sweden they load it up with aquavit or vodka. To top things off, add some dried fruit and nuts to eat with a spoon.
Glögg is also a fun word to say, right? You say it like the sound you make when you chug a bottle of water, a classic example of a homophone, a word pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning (whether spelled the same way or not). Say it out loud a few times—so what if people stare?
Agua Dulce
The Daily Meal says this one is simply “sweet water.” Easy to make, too — just take unbleached and unrefined whole sugarcane and dissolve into hot water. It’s a popular treat in Costa Rica.
Xocolatl
While you might be tempted to say “coco-ladel” this is pronounced “show-co-lat-til.” From The Grapevine touts this “rich drink of the Aztecs” as the “original hot chocolate,” and it’s made with cocoa and a chili pepper. Check out this recipe from meltingmug.
Anijsmelk
Just soak aniseed in milk for this Dutch favorite. The Daily Meal notes that the drink is commonly made with anjisblokjes, or anise sugar cubes, which are then stirred into warm milk.
Wattlecino
Another great word, and this one comes as far away from Sweden as possible. Wattlecino is from the land Down Under, where women glow and men plunder. Bustle says this is a “coffee substitute made with roasted and ground wattleseed instead of coffee beans that tastes kind of hazelnutty.” Recipe? Sure, we can do that.
Rooibos Tea
Fine Dining Lovers calls this “a caffeine free alternative to black tea. Rooibos only grows in the Cederberg mountains in the southwestern part of South Africa.” In South Africa, it’s not just a drink. It’s used for cooking and baking and is also in some cosmetics and hair color! So maybe have a glass just before your hair appointment, then give the rest to the salon? The word rooibos literally means “red bush.”
Colada
This one is interesting. Daily Meal calls it a kind of “drinkable oatmeal,” a bit of a contradiction in terms. Sometimes made with brown sugar and orange, this Ecuadorian favorite includes dry oats, which are soaked and then boiled in water with orange. Strain, then enjoy.
Ready To Make Your Own Glögg?
This is the real deal (they spell it with the umlaut, so you know they’re serious). Buckle up and dive in. Happy Glögging, everyone.
