Best Ever Hot Wassail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does wassail have to be refrigerated? ›

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make this in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to heat and enjoy. To Reheat: Use the microwave, stove, or slow cooker to reheat this hot wassail.

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

While wassail may not be a good food pairing, it is co*ckle-warming enjoyed by itself, or with dessert-type sweet fruit-based baked items, like apple pie, cherry tarts and maybe even beignets. Chocolate is not an ideal pairing, but could work depending on the sweetness level of the chocolate.

The history of wassail is as long as it is varied. The earliest mention of wassail is in the pagan ritual of Apple Wassailing dating back to the English Middle Ages. This drinking ritual was to ensure a good apple harvest and would have occurred on the old Twelfth Night (January 17).

Because wassail is made with fruit juices and spices such as cinnamon and ginger, it can be soothing for a cold, and may even be helpful in easing congestion.

All liquids should be refrigerated after opening, including apple cider. Bacteria are everywhere, and keeping things below 40 degrees F slows down their growth. Years ago, we made good use out of the bushels of apples from our farm, and used a converted Maytag washer, now a cider press, to make gallons of apple cider.

Mulled Cider – Wassail Punch

Wassail, a hot mulled citrusy punch, was the beverage of choice. There are very few differences between mulled cider and Wassail Punch. Both contain spices and some juice. One of the main differences is that mulled wine is often made with whole oranges.

Traditionally, mulled cider is drunk on a wassail night. However, we haven't been to a wassail where this isn't every kind of cider under the sun. There's no better way to awaken the orchard than revelling in its previous fruits. Here are some of our favourites for your own wassail.

By wassailing their crops in the winter, it was said to ensure a healthy crop in the spring. As Christianity began to spread, this ritual evolved further into singing and drinking to the health of next season's crops on Twelfth Night; the last night of the traditional Christmas season.

A sweetened blend of black currant, apple, and lemon juices, with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, and orange peel, Trader Joe's Winter Wassail is a fruit punch whose flavors and aromas evoke the holidays. You can serve it chilled, over ice with bourbon; or warmed, in a big mug, with a cinnamon stick garnish.

What country is wassail from? ›

The text of the carol employs noun and verb forms of “wassail,” a word derived from the Old Norse ves heil and the Old English was hál and meaning “be in good health” or “be fortunate.” The phrase found first use as a simple greeting, but the Danish-speaking inhabitants of England seem to have turned was hail, and the ...

The tradition of wassailing (alt sp wasselling) falls into two distinct categories: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail.

wassail • \WAH-sul\ • verb. 1 : to indulge in riotous drinking : carouse 2 : (dialectal, England) to sing carols from house to house at Christmas 3 : to drink to the health or thriving of.

Since mulled wine and wassail are traditionally homemade family recipes, past down by generations, and the drinks are not likely to be found on store shelves, the two beverages can be nearly identical, which is a spiced wine, ale, or liquor, blended with aromatic spices and often served warm.

“Wassail” is the modern spelling of the old English phrase “waes hael” meaning “good health!” Shared as a salutation or toast, the proper response was “drink health!” and indeed, wassail is a drink, as well. Below I'll share a versatile recipe for you to play with and savor.

Since our cider is a raw product, refrigeration is a must. However, it will last 2-3 hours unrefrigerated, so long as it remains out of direct sunlight, just long enough for your car ride home. Once in the refrigerator, you can expect 2-3 weeks of shelf life. Our cider can also be frozen almost indefinitely.

Optional add-in spices: You can add any combination of the following spices to make a more complex-tasting cider: 4 star anise pods, 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, or 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries. Storage: Leftover cider can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Since hard cider is fermented, it doesn't have to be refrigerated once it is bottled or canned. However, there are a few guidelines to ensure that your hard cider stays fresh and delicious. The ideal storage temperature for hard cider is between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Refrigerated in a bottle with a closed cap. This mulled cider will last around 2 weeks, maybe longer but I'd stick to 2 weeks as it'll slowly start losing its fresh flavour the longer you leave it. Though always give it a smell before heating it up. If anything seems off, just throw it out.