Summer reminds us of long hot days and leisurely hours spent drinking cooling beverages; iced teas, tall glasses of cold, freshly made lemonade, smoothies and many more.
Winter paints a very different picture; warm fires, furry slippers, thick jumpers and hands wrapped round a hot warming drink.
The list of hot drinks available nowadays is endless so here are our top 5 winter warming drinks for you to try, some traditional and some you may not have tried yet
Hot Chocolate
Nothing cures the winter blues like a cup of hot chocolate
How to make perfect hot chocolate
Serves 2
450ml whole milk
70g 70% cocoa chocolate, finely chopped or grated
30g good-quality milk chocolate, finely chopped or grated
75ml single cream
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1. Warm about 150ml milk in a pan over a medium heat and stir in the chocolate. Continue to stir until the chocolate has melted into the milk, then whisk in the remaining milk and the cream.
2. Continue to heat until the mixture is hot, but not boiling, then add the cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Taste, adjust if necessary, and serve. For a frothy finish, whisk vigorously just before pouring.
For those of you who like a luxury version click here for ways to upgrade
Salep
Salep, is a traditional winter warmer, a common beverage in Turkey. The powder of Salop is sold in a ready-to-prepare form, to be mixed with cold milk or water, boiled until it gets thick so that it can really sooth our sore throats and take away that cold during the blistery winter days. The dust of cinnamon makes it even more pleasurable. It is thick, it is sweet, it is comforting.
Here’s how you make it
In a deep sauce pan add cold milk and salep powder into the pan. For each cup add 3 tsp salep (10gr) into cold milk, stir until boil it. Salep should be thickening in a few minutes. Pour the hot drink into the cup. Do not add sugar, all prepackaged salep drinks contains sugar already. Sprinkle cinnamon on top before serving.
A steaming cup of coffee
Nowadays there are so many different styles of coffee to choose, from Espresso to Piccolo Latte. One thing is for sure there is a style to suit coffee lovers everywhere. Click here for 12 different types of coffee
Boza
Turkish Boza is a smoothie like fermented drink that is mainly based on bulgur and yeast. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that everyone finds addictive! It is typically sold in winter although it’s not a hot drink. It’s associated with cold days and snow because it has a warming effect.
Turkish Boza is traditionally served in typical Turkish water glasses with cinnamon and roasted chickpeas on the top. A dessert spoon is just dipped into it and you can either drink it or eat it or do both.
Click here for how to make Turkish Boza
With Christmas just around the corner why not try a warming cup of Spiced Holiday Tea
Spiced Holiday Tea
Ingredients
2 cups water
3 tea bags (unflavored black tea)
4 star anise
1 x 3 inch cinnamon stick
1 cup passion fruit nectar
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions
In a medium saucepan bring water to boiling. Add tea bags, anise, and cinnamon stick. Reduce heat. simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and cinnamon stick. Stir in nectar, honey, and lemon juice. Heat through.
Pour tea mixture into four heat-proof cups, floating a star anise on top of each. Makes 4 servings. – courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens
All winter warmers to be served by the fire with a book!
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