This easy instant wassail drink recipe is super quick to make and lucky for you….. only requires five dry ingredients. Did I mention that it is also insanely delicious? It is a recipe that my mom has been making since I was just a little girl, although I’m not quite sure where she got it from originally. It’s a bulk recipe that could easily be put into jars with a simple tag (including directions to mix it up) for an inexpensive holiday gift.
In fact, sadly this recipe had been lost for a few years, but when my brother asked my mom if he could have the recipe recently, my mom went on the hunt and found it, so I knew that I needed to take a minute and share it with you all.
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What is Wassail drink?
Basically, Wassail is a spiced drink that has juices in it… those juices can be apple, lemon, orange,…or pretty much any juice you’d like to throw in with some wintery seasonal spices… this particular recipe is spiced lemon (lemonade) powder and orange (tang) powder but you could always try making something similar with some other yummy flavors of juice and/or alcohol.
Please note that I don’t drink alcohol at all, so I’m not sure how it blends with different alcohols, but I imagine it wouldn’t take much experimentation to figure out which flavor combos taste the best should you choose to give it a little bit of a kick and make it kind of your own version of Wassail recipes.
This is a very Americanized instant version of the cider, so keep that in mind…but if you would like to read more about the origins of Wassail, you can go here and read about it at britishfoodhistory.com.
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How to make Wassail mix (video tutorial & recipe card found here)
Please note for best results: It says on the Tang bottle not to store it in a metal container (I’m assuming because of acidity), so when I make my Wassail I put it in a half gallon mason jar.
One batch of this recipe will only require one each of the small (18/20 oz) Tang and Countrytime Lemonade canisters, but it’s cheaper to buy them in bulk if you decide that you are going to make a bunch for gifts or just always want to have the ingredients on hand.
Each batch makes about 5 cups of mix in case you were wondering how much to make if you do want to fill up some jars for a unique homemade gift.
Mix up a batch and enjoy it! I know we are loving it at my house. Any time I mix up a batch my kids beg me to let them have some a couple of times a day.
However, since it’s super sweet I really do try to limit my little sugar monsters to one cup per day.
Thiseasy, non-alcoholic, instant wassail mix recipeis so quick to make and only requires five ingredients.
Ingredients
2 Cups Sugar
1.5 Cups Country Time Lemonade (Powder)
1 Cup Orange Tang (Powder)
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon (Ground)
½ teaspoon Cloves (Ground)
Instructions
In a large glass jar or plastic container large enough to hold 5 cups ( I use a half gallon mason jar), layer your ingredients. Add the lid and tighten. Shake well! It sometimes takes a few minutes of shaking until it is well mixed you'll know you are done when the color is the same throughout the whole mixture.
Mix one Tablespoon per one cup of hot water. Enjoy!
Notes
This mix makes a great Holiday gift! Just package it cute with instructions on what water to mix ratio to use.
Did you make this recipe?
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FAQ’s
Can I use more than one Tablespoon wassail dry mix per cup?
Yes, it’s totally up to you how concentrated you would like your spiced wassail to taste, adjust the amount however you please.
Can I mix this with alcohol?
Of course you can. Any alcohol that you typically mix with a spiced cider should taste great when adding this mix.
What is Wassail? Wassail is like the tastier sister to Apple Cider. Traditional wassail was made with hard liquor, apples, brandy, and other spices. This recipe is made with cloves, apples, cinnamon, lemon, orange, ginger, and nutmeg and is a nonalcoholic wassail recipe.
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.However, Wassail is traditionally made with apple juice.
Directions. Pour apple cider, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice into a stockpot. Place orange slices, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and cloves in a muslin pouch or directly into the apple cider mixture. Bring apple cider mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, 15 to 20 minutes.
Not only is this a warming, festive drink, but the medicinal herbs provide multiple health benefits. During the mulling process, the cinnamon, ginger, and clove impart a spicy aroma as well as anti-inflammatory, immune supporting properties to the wassail.
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.
The purpose of wassailing is to awaken the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn. The ceremonies of each wassail vary from village to village but they generally all have the same core elements.
Traditionally cider is spiked with dark spirits, like the rum and bourbon in the recipes above. But what if you want something a little lighter? Vodka can do the trick. Since it doesn't contribute much in the way of flavor, we add fresh ginger for its distinctive, peppery-sweet flavor.
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 ...
Wassailing is a Twelfth Night tradition with pagan roots and has been practised in Britain for centuries. Discover the celebration and its rituals, including sipping from a communal wassail bowl.
If you don't finish the entire batch (we hardly ever do) then just throw it in a pitcher in the fridge and pull it out to reheat when you want to serve it again! It can be warmed up in the microwave, stovetop or slow cooker! Also, it keeps wonderfully for 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
The word 'Wassail' comes from the Anglo Saxon toast 'waes hael' – meaning 'be well' or 'be in good health'. This ceremony promotes the health of the trees and encourages a bountiful harvest, traditionally taking place around the old Twelfth Night (January 17).
Cider is poured around the roots of the tree, while pots and pans are clattered to ward off any evil spirits and wake the trees from their winter slumber. The crowd will also serenade the tree with chants and traditional songs, often followed by Morris dancing.
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 ...
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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