During the Christmas holidays, we usually prepare an assortment of dishes. However, our drink choices hardly ever change. Normally, we would eat our Christmas dinner with ice-cold soda or any chilled alcoholic beverage.
To have some variety in our beverages during the cold season, here are some recipes for hot holiday drinks you should try. After all, the cold season is brief in Southeast Asia, so it is best to enjoy it while we can.
1. Hot Chocolate
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Nothing beats having classic hot chocolate on cold evenings. Not only is this extremely easy to make, but it can also be consumed by all ages.
Celebrity chef Martha Stewart’s homemade chocolate mix recipe uses 2 ¼ cups cocoa powder, 3 ½ cups sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt.
To make one serving, simply microwave a cup of whole milk and stir in 2 tablespoons of the cocoa mixture. You can then add marshmallows, whipped cream, and other garnishes, depending on your style.
For a vegan option, you can simply substitute whole milk with almond or oat milk.
2. Peppermint Tea
The experts at ENT Singapore highly recommend peppermint tea to shoo away cold and flu during the cold weather.
The menthol in this drink unclogs the airways, helping you breathe more easily. Think of it like cough drops or menthol rubs, only much better because you get to inhale the steam and drink it at the same time.
For this, peppermint tea bags or dried, loose peppermint leaves are readily available at retail stores.
However, if you have a peppermint plant of your own, you can boil 15 to 20 pieces of crushed peppermint leaves in two cups of water, then steep for 10 to 20 minutes depending on your preferred concentration. Strain then add honey and lemon to taste.
3. Hot Matcha Latte
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Adding hot milk to matcha is without a doubt the most enjoyable way to drink this type of tea. While this is a drink you’d definitely enjoy, matcha also boasts many benefits.
For one, it has caffeine content that helps you stay alert for your holiday tasks. The caffeine in matcha is longer lasting and more energising that coffee, so it’s definitely an upgrade from your usual choice of beverage.
Urologist Singapore also encourages drinking green tea for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help ease the symptoms of many urological health problems.
To make this hearty drink, sift 1 ½ teaspoons of matcha powder into a cup containing 1 tablespoon of hot water. Then, stir until fully dissolved. Finally, add ¾ cup of hot milk and honey to taste.
4. Hot Buttered Bourbon
If you’re over 21 and you’re having friends over for Christmas, HGTV’s recipe will surely impress them. Hot butter bourbon may just be the real-life version of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s infamous butterbeer.
To prepare this, let a cup of apple cider simmer in low heat. As the cider simmers, mix 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon honey, ¼ teaspoon cloves, and ¼ teaspoon ground ginger in a bowl.
Then, add the mixture to the cider just until it melts before removing from the heat. Add ½ cup of bourbon and serve with a garnish of cinnamon sticks.
5. Warm Spiced Red Wine Sangria
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For a hot, alcoholic drink that matches well with your savory holiday dishes, warm, spiced red wine sangria is a fail-proof choice. This recipe can be made quickly and without hassle, so it won’t drain your good holiday energy even after preparing your Christmas dinner.
For this, combine a bottle of red wine with ½ cup cherry/pomegranate/cranberry juice, ½ cup orange juice, ¼ cup orange liqueur, ½ cup sugar, and fresh orange slices.
Let simmer until the sugar completely dissolves. Then, pour into mugs and garnish with more orange slices. Lemons for Lulu says you can also replace orange liqueur with flavored vodka or brandy.
These are only a few of the beverages you can enjoy over the holidays. You can find many more non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks to try by just asking around! Just keep in mind to drink in moderation, whatever beverage it is that you’re having this holiday.
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