Mulled pear cider
A perfect warming cocktail for winter, mulled pear cider is ideal for guests. You can make it ‘hard’ by adding rum or keep it alcohol-free; either way, it’s a lovely tipple.
Ingredients
- 7 pears
- 2 lemons
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
- 10 cups water
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise pods
- 1 Tbsp cardamom pods
- 1 Tbsp rosemary (dry)
- 1 tsp cloves (whole)
- 2 vanilla pods (split lengthwise)
- 2 nutmeg seeds
Method
- Clean pears and remove the core.
- Combine all the ingredients except lemons in a pot with water. Cover with a lid. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2.5 hours.
- Slice the lemon and add into the pot. Turn off the heat and let the mixture steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain it through a mesh sieve, or sieve it through a milk cotton bag.
- Serve hot and garnish each glass with a lemon slice and cinnamon stick.
- Store in an air-tight jar or a bottle in the fridge for up to a week. Can also be served cold.
