Glögg: Swedish Mulled Wine
Glögg: Swedish Mulled Wine is a beloved Christmas staple known for its warmth, spices, and lightly alcoholic nature. It’s the perfect drink for cold winter nights.
History
Mulled wine in all its forms has a long history in Europe. The concept of warming and spicing wine can be traced to the Roman Empire. Throughout history, various cultures and regions in Europe developed their own versions of mulled wine, incorporating local spices, herbs, and sweeteners. Over time, mulled wine became associated with winter festivities and holiday traditions, with each country and region adding its own twist to the recipe.
Family Tradition
In my family, we have been serving glögg during Christmas for as long as I can remember. Even as children, we were allowed to enjoy a small portion since most of the alcohol evaporated during the cooking process. In Sweden, you can find pre-made bottles of glögg at Systembolaget, the Swedish alcohol monopoly. These bottles come in various strengths and sometimes feature fun flavors. One popular company, Blossa, releases a special “flavor of the year” edition annually, which quickly becomes a sought-after collector’s item.
However, since my family lived in the US where glögg wasn’t readily available, my grandmother made her own. The following recipe is her personal creation, which our family enjoys.
Variation
There is plenty of room for variation and experimentation when it comes to glögg. You can use almost any red wine of your choice, but it’s best to avoid wines that are overly sweet or dry. Remember, we’re aiming for that Swedish concept of “lagom”—not too much of one thing or another, but just right. Additionally, feel free to customize the spices based on your preferences.
Serving
Glögg is typically served warm in cups or glasses specifically designed for the purpose. They are small and are usually decorated with Christmas motifs. Traditionally, glögg is served with raisins and blanched almonds added to each cup as a garnish. Some variations may also include a cinnamon stick or orange peel but this is not super common.
Glögg
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 250 g Madeira
- 250 g aquavit
- 4 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ¼ orange peel
- 250 g sugar
- Raisins and blanched almonds
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the red wine, sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick, and orange peel.
- Heat the mixture over medium-low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Add the Madeira and aquavit to the pot and allow the mixture to come up to a warm temperature.
- The longer the mixture simmers or boils, the lower the alcohol content will be.
- Serve the glögg in small cups, and garnish each cup with raisins and blanched almonds.
- Enjoy your homemade glögg!