{Wassail} The Classic Holiday Drink Recipe

{‘Tis Wassail Season}

Wassail is one of the things our family most looks forward to in the holiday season. A tea-based, fruity drink, it is a refreshing change from hot cider, and with orange, cinnamon, and cloves it is as Christmas-y as it gets. Some versions of wassail contain alcohol, but this one is kid-friendly. With all the vitamin C and spices, wassail is a good immunity booster too. And did I mention wassail makes your house smell a-mazing?!? (It might also get that song stuck in your head, but that’s okay by me.)

 

 

{Tradition}

My husband grew up drinking wassail with his family on Christmas Eve, as part of their advent celebration, when the final candle was lit. In our own family traditions, we start making batches of wassail as soon as the weather turns in the fall. In fact, we are heard to say, “Tis wassail weather today!” on grey and dismal days. It truly warms your bones and cheers your soul in the darkest months of the year and is something we look forward to each year.

 

 

 

{Neighborly Gifts}

We like to make gifts of wassail to our neighbors by filling recycled 2 quart honey jugs with a custom-created label for the front, and delivering them near Christmas Eve. It’s a great way to spread the holiday cheer with a unique and inexpensive gift.

 

 

 

{The Christmas Wassail Recipe}

• 1 quart hot, brewed black tea
• 1 quart apple juice
• 1 quart cranberry juice
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• several cinnamon sticks
• about 10 whole cloves
• orange slices for garnish if desired.

Steep 3 to 5 black tea bags in hot water for about 10 minutes and then remove tea bags; combine with all remaining ingredients except orange slices and stir to dissolve sugar. Bring to boil and simmer for at least 15 minutes but as long as you would like. Float orange slices on top of kettle if desired. Generally served hot, but also delicious cold.