Feuerzangenbowle

[MissHoneychurch]

It is the time again





Feuerzangenbowle is a hot German New Year's or winter punch made with red wine and rum. Here is our recipe for Feuerzangenbowle:

Ingredients:
Bowle/Punch
3 bottles of red wine (2-3 liters total)
2 cinnamon sticks
cardamom
allspice
1-2 oranges
1-2 lemons
5 cloves

1 German sugar cone/loaf* (Zuckerhut)
1 bottle of rum

Directions:
1. In a large pot or kettle filled with red wine, add cinnamon sticks, cardamom, and allspice. Cut up the oranges and lemons (optional: make peel spirals), crush fruit to release the juice, and add to the punch along with the cloves. Warm to a steaming mixture. Do not boil!
2. Place a German sugar cone (Zuckerhut, sugar loaf)* on a metal rack/screen or clamped in metal tongs above the warm punch. (Substitute sugar cubes if you can't get a Zuckerhut.) Slowly pour high-proof rum over the Zuckerhut or sugar cubes and let soak for a minute. Carefully light the Zuckerhut or sugar cubes and let the flaming sugar carmelize and drip into the punch mix. Add rum as needed to keep the flame going until the Zuckerhut process is done. Serve the punch hot in mugs or hot-tea glasses. (Note: Traditionally, Feuerzangenbowle was prepared with the Zuckerhut sitting on crossed swords atop the pot.)

*ZUCKERHUT: A German sugar cone or sugar loaf (lit. "sugar hat&quot is made of compressed Raffinade (refined sugar) in a cone shape. A German description of Raffinade: "Ein Zucker von höchster Reinheit und bester Qualität. Die Raffinade wird aus sehr reinen Zuckerlösungen gewonnen und entspricht hohen Ansprüchen." (A sugar of highest purity and best quality. Raffinade is made from very pure sugar solutions and meets high standards.) If you can't get the real thing, substitute sugar cubes in the recipe above.

http://german.about.com/library/blfeuerzangenb.htm

And if you know German here is a short part from the famous movie "Die Feuerzangenbowle" starring Heinz Rühmann

[Xyzse]

1. Crud, when I saw that picture I immediately thought...

"Absynthe Spoon"?

[MissHoneychurch]

2. Yes, it is similar

[Xyzse]

3. My brother has tried making home made absynthe.

We have dubbed it Seelyie. We even worked on a blue colored version and called it Unseelyie.
I don't know if it would go anywhere, but I thought it was pretty cool.

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Was it drinkable?

[Xyzse]

5. Yes

I mean, it tasted like some of the absynthes out there.
Thing is, since my experience with such a thing is limited, I can only go by what I know, and that isn't much.

One day, I want to try a high quality version.

Maybe if I travel to Europe at some point, I'd have a better basis of comparison. Not really a fan of the flavor, I just think it is pretty damn cool.

[MissHoneychurch]

6. Never tried it myself

the smell is alone a reason for me not to try it ... LOL

My friend drinks it though. Maybe once or twice the year.

[Xyzse]

7. Tastes disgusting.

I've never tasted one that was not disgusting.
I just like the idea of it, but not the actual drinking.

So, ummm, when I said my knowledge is limited, it really is limited to a pinky dip on 5 different occasions.

[MissHoneychurch]

8. More knowledge than me

I just sniffed once and said "Thanks but no, thanks"

[Xyzse]

11. But yeah, it was drinkable.

Since someone else drank it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. so then, I am confused. This does not taste good or, does it?

I thought I would make it but, if it does not taste good ....

I make a really good Spiced Apple Rum Cider this time of year.

[MissHoneychurch]

10. It does

it has nothing whatsover to do with absinth. Nothing. Nada. Niente.

Try it. You will like it. I promise you.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. ok, thanks - I will try it then. Thanks for the recipe and the video.

Merry Christmas, MissHoneychurch

good to see you