Glögi (traditional recipe)
If you ask a Finn what is the secret of getting through the cold and dark winter time – Glögi and candles would be the answer. Glögi is a kind of spiced Finnish version of mulled wine that you drink around Christmas time. Finns typically serve the drink with “Piparkakku” (traditional Finnish gingerbread biscuits). This warm and spicy drink together with scented candles fill up your home with just the right atmosphere for the holiday season.
We thought you might enjoy it as well,
so here is Saana’s traditional family recipe for glögi:
INGREDIENTS:
[ Makes about 1.5 litres of glögi ]
1 litre blackcurrant juice
0.5 litre apple juice
1/4 fresh lemon
3 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
3 cardamom seeds (or 1/2 tsp of ground cardamom)
A few strips of orange peel
2 star anise
small piece of peeled ginger
5 dl red wine
50 g raisins
sugar to taste
PREPARATION:
1. Wash the ¼ lemon and cut it into thin slices.
2. Wash the orange and prepare strips of orange peel.
3. Put the blackcurrant juice, apple juice, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamon, anise, ginger, orange peels and slices of lemon in a saucepan and heat it slowly.
4. Add sugar (to taste) and stir until dissolved.
* Important: Under no circumstances should you let the contents boil.
5. Add the red wine – Leave to simmer on a low heat with the lid on the saucepan for 20 minutes.
6. Taste to make sure the glögi has reached the desired level of spice.
7. Let the glögi mixture sit overnight in a cool place with the lid closed. The next day, the glögi is heated again before serving. Even now, you shouldn’t bring it to a boil – Serve hot in a mug.
