What Do People Drink Around the World During Christmas? Here Are 9 Hot Drinks (And More) to Try!

Christmas, a time of lights and gifts, of family lunches and dinners, evenings in front of the fireplace and long walks through the markets. And what's better, in these moments, than sharing a hot, sweet drink with Christmas flavors? There are so many drinks to sip during the Christmas period, alternatives to the classic hot chocolate or tea that taste of spices, that are more or less sweet and, often, with an alcoholic component. Some, even if not born in the U.S., have become part of our tradition, while others are specialties in their countries of origin: let's go together on a journey through the tastiest and most particular hot Christmas drinks in the world.

1. Mulled Wine

In German it is called glühwein, in French vin chaud, in English mulled wine: however you call it, the goodness of this aromatic wine that has become a true symbol of Christmas does not change, especially because it is typical to drink it during visits to Christmas markets. It is a spiced drink that is prepared starting from heated red wine, to which sugar, cinnamon, cloves and citrus fruits are added, and it is very ancient: it seems that it was already prepared in Ancient Rome , and then spread in the Middle Ages especially in northern Italy and northern Europe. Even today, in these territories, it is consumed during Advent, around fairs and markets or in front of the fireplace, because it is also very easy to prepare it on occasion.

2. Eggnog

If in Europe, Christmas means mulled wine, in English-speaking countries the equivalent is eggnog: it is the most loved, prepared and drunk drink of the Christmas holidays in the United States of America, Canada and England. Eggnog was born in London in 1700 thanks to the experiments of the bartender Carl Joannessons, inventor of this boiling drink made with milk, eggs, nutmeg or cinnamon, caramel and rum, brandy or whiskey, but it can also be found without the addition of the distillate in a non-alcoholic version suitable for those who do not like alcohol. Easy to prepare even at home, it can be drunk both hot and cold and has a consistency similar to whiskey creams, one of the characteristics that differentiate it from zabaglione, with which it is often confused.

3. Grog

Warm, simple but tasty and decidedly alcoholic: grog is a truly unique drink, created by sailors of the British Navy in the 18th century who drank it on ships to combat the cold. Its unusual name comes from the vice admiral of the Royal Navy who first introduced the drink, Edward Vernor, known as “Old Grog”: he initially made it by combining water with wine or beer present on ships, then after the conquest of Jamaica in 1655, the birthplace of rum, the latter would replace them. Modern grog is therefore prepared with rum and water, mixed with cane sugar and lemon juice, although some add a little pear juice and a slice of pear inside, and sugar to taste after mixing everything. Today it is very common to find grog in many European Christmas markets, especially those in Germany.

4. Glögg

Let's move even further north to encounter all the flavours of glögg, a particular hot alcoholic drink typical of Scandinavian countries, especially Sweden but not only (in Finland it is called glögi and in Norway it is called gløgg). It is very similar to mulled wine but even spicier and with a slightly different preparation that includes a mix of red wine, cinnamon, fresh ginger, cloves, lemon peel and a touch of grappa. It is found on sale in pre-packaged bottles or prepared at home, in both cases it is impossible not to find it on the Christmas table.

5. Mulled Cider

Christmas in Great Britain means not only eggnog but also mulled cider: it is a sweet winter drink, to be drunk strictly hot and in a cup during the traditional ceremony of Wassailing, or going from house to house singing Christmas carols. The base is apple cider, a typical British preparation, which is embellished with various spices, in particular cinnamon, cloves and ginger, and in some cases with vanilla, sugar, whisky or brandy. The variations of hot cider are many and vary from one region to another of Great Britain, often even from town to town.

6. Salep

One of the most particular hot drinks comes from Turkey and is called salep: it is a thick milk and slightly frothy on the surface made with wild orchid flour (called salep, from which the drink takes its name), sugar and cinnamon. The flavor is sweet, comparable to that of vanilla, but much less accentuated, with spicy notes that make it perfect for the Christmas period, even if in reality it is so loved in Turkey that it is always found , consumed a bit like Italians consume cappuccino, or we consume iced coffee.

7. Sujeonggwa

In the winters of East Asia, especially in Korea but not only, the must-have drink of the period is sujeonggwa, a sort of fruit punch prepared with dried fruit, dried persimmons, ginger and cinnamon. Preparing it at home is very simple, you just have to simmer sliced ​​ginger and cinnamon for a couple of hours in water, then sweetened with sugar or honey. Then, some chopped dried persimmons are added to the drink, which are left to soak until they soften. Originally, sujeonggwa was a winter drink that was consumed only on the Lunar New Year, but today it is the drink for all important occasions, even parties such as weddings.

8. Atole and Champurrado

The quintessential hot drink during the Christmas holidays in Mexico is atole, a very special preparation made with panela, or unrefined cane sugar, masa, a type of cooked corn starch or flour, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and water. It is usually prepared as a liquid, to be drunk just like a beverage, but there is also a more full-bodied version that, in terms of consistency, resembles porridge. If hot chocolate is added to atole, it is called champurrado.

9. Sorrel Wine

We conclude our journey in beautiful and sunny Jamaica, where Christmas has the taste of sorrel wine. It is a sort of Jamaican version of mulled wine, prepared from sorrel berries (a local plant very common on the island) to which are added spices such as cloves and ginger and the inevitable rum, in this case white so that the vivid ruby ​​red color given by the infused berries can be clearly seen. It is not drunk hot but cold, but it makes sense for a country where Christmas is celebrated on the beach!