Spiced Mulled Port Wine Recipe

Recipe: Spiced Mulled Port Wine Recipe

A famous recipe by Eliza Acton, a 19th Century English Cook and Poet who produced one of the country's first cookbooks aimed at the domestic reader, rather than professional cooks or chefs. This unique beverage is also mentioned in Charles Dickens "The Christmas Carol" (although in the book its called Smoking Bishop).

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

1 Orange
16 Cloves
2 Tablespoons brown Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon ground Nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon Allspice
1 Teaspoon ground Ginger
280ml Water
750ml Ruby Port
70ml Orange Juice (or the juice of one orange)

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 200C/400F/Gas Mark 6

Cut the orange in half and stud the halves with the cloves

Place the two halves on a lined baking tray cut-side up, and bake for 15-20 minutes

Take out of the oven and set to one side

Meanwhile pour the water into a large pan and add the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice & ginger.

Place over a high heat. Stirring all the time bring to the boil and reduce by about half

Take off the heat and set to one side.

When you are ready to serve empty the bottle of Port into the pan with the spiced sugar water and add the two halves of baked oranges

Add the orange juice and gently heat up and simmer (don't boil)

Serve from a warmed Punch Bowl with the orange halves floating in it