Feuerzangenbowle is the name of a spectacular German drink that has become a popular tradition around Christmas time. Germany’s most spectacular drink consists of red wine, fruit and spices, prepared in a fireproof pot. The Feuerzangenbowle is a red wine-based punch. Despite the name, the drink is not a punch (to be drunk cold). After adding various fruits and spices, “fire tongs” are placed on a pot and a cone-shaped piece of sugar soaked in rum is lit, dripping into the liquid as it burns.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 bottles of red wine
• 375 ml / 12 2/3 oz. overproof Rum (54%)
• 1 sugar loaf (250 g)
• 1 orange (untreated)
• 1 lemon (untreated)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 star anise
• 2 cloves

METHOD

1. Thinly peel the zest from the lemon and orange and squeeze out the juice.
2. Pour the juice through a sieve into a pot.
3. Pour in the citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and red wine.
4. Heat ingredients but do not boil.
5. Put the sugar loaf over the pot on tongs, drizzle with a little rum and set alight.
6. Before the flame goes out, pour in the rum with a ladle.
7. Serve the Feuerzangenbowle in tea or punch glasses.