Spiced Pomegranate Wassail

Spiced Pomegranate Wassail is a warm, non-alcoholic drink similar to hot apple cider. Perfect for people who can’t have hot chocolate or egg nog!

In my very early singing career, I had a gig singing with The Royal Renaissance Singers in Phoenix, AZ, a group still performing today. Every year during the holidays, we would dress in Renaissance costumes, and sing wherever we were hired. (You haven’t lived as a performer until you’ve had to pump gas in Renaissance attire.) This was no cheesy little group. We were a BIG group of fine singers, transporting listeners to a different time and place. (There’s a reason I’m telling you all of this. Hang tight.)

We entered robustly singing:

So what IS wassail…?

Wassail gets its name from the Middle English waes haeil – a wish for good health. It was a drink similar to hot apple cider used in an old English ritual of singing, drinking, and placing cider-soaked toast in the trees to ensure a good apple harvest.

I always think of this type of drink as wassail, especially since it really can contribute to good health! At this time of year, we need our vitamin C, and this is a fun way to get it.

I like my wassail slightly tart rather than too sweet. Please adjust the sweetness to your liking! Taste to see if you’d like more honey, or perhaps even serve with honey so people can customize their drink. You can always add honey in, but you can’t take it out!

One little tip: place the cloves and broken cinnamon stick in a tea ball so you don’t have to fish them out of your drink.

Waes haeil, everyone!!!

💗,

Wendi

P.S. For more non-alcoholic celebratory drinks, check out this post.

Spiced Pomegranate Wassail

Recipe by Wendi’s AIP Kitchen – http://www.wendisaipkitchen.com Course: DrinksCuisine: AIP, PaleoDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Spiced Pomegranate Wassail is a warm, non-alcoholic drink similar to hot apple cider. Perfect for people who can’t have hot chocolate or egg nog!

Ingredients

• 1 cup 1 POM pomegranate juice

• 1 cup 1 unsweetened apple cider not from concentrate

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 16 whole cloves

• 1/2 cup 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon

• 8 orange slices

• 3 TBSP 3 honey, or to taste

• Garnishes: orange slices, cinnamon stick

Directions

• Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Briefly bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and keep at a bare simmer until done to your liking, the flavors have melded, and your house smells delicious – about 15 minutes.
• Taste for sweetness. Add more honey if desired.
• Ladle wassail into mugs. You may decide to serve honey on the side so that people can customize their drink.

Notes

• Tip: place the cloves and broken cinnamon sticks in a tea ball while cooking so you don’t have to fish them out of your drink! 🙂

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