Glorious Glögg!

[stormylee]

The origins of mulled wine go back at least as far as ancient Rome - the oldest known recipe for spiced and heated wine comes from the cookbook De re coquinaria. Originally the spices and heating may have been used to improve the taste of less than first-rate wine, but soon the practice became a form of culinary art. The fact that heated wine also warmed people up from the inside out on cold nights was a nice bonus, for sure.

Over time, the practice of mulling wine spread across Europe. In the Middle Ages, mulled wine was even used in medicine in Central Europe: in addition to healing spices, herbs were also added to the wine to help the ailing.

Glögg (in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic) or glögi (Finnish) is the Scandinavian version of mulled wine. The first glögg recipes came to Sweden from Northern Germany in the 17th century. The word glögg comes from the Swedish verb glödga, to heat up - the term glödgat vin ("heated wine") is first mentioned in a manuscript in 1609. The earliest glögg drinks were often based on cognac, punsch or vodka as wine was less widely available.

Glögg has since become popular in other Scandinavian countries too and is a staple during Christmas season. Perhaps because the name of the drink does not refer to wine at all, there are plenty of alcohol-free recipes for glögg around in Scandinavia: many are based on red or black currant juices or purple grape juice. Mulled white wine is also popular - as is its alcohol-free counterpart, mulled apple juice or green grape juice.

Why not go Scandinavian this holiday season and spice up your December with some glögg? The alcohol-free variants are a handy option when there are both drinkers and non-drinkers present: simply add a shot of vodka, cognac or rum to the hot, spiced juice (or mix with equal amount of wine) to make an alcoholic drink.


(Much thanks to Mikko Kosonen for this beautiful photograph!)

Red wine glögg:
Mellow Glogg for a Freezing Night
Glogg
My Family's Swedish Glogg
Glogg (Swedish Mulled Red Wine)- My Swedish Mother in Law's
Christmas Glögi
Mulled Wine a La Kolibri
Glogi ( Finnish Mulled Wine)
Best of Bridge Danish Glogg

White wine glögg:
Apple White Wine Glögi (Mulled Wine)
Mulled White Wine

Alcohol-free glögg:
Red Grape Glögi
Non-Alcohol Glögg (Finnish Chrismas Hot Spiced Punch)
SAFT GLOGG (Swedish Fruit Juice Glogg)
Apple Glögi

Others:
Apple Cinnamon Glögi
Glögi Spice Mixture for White Wine
Glögi Spice Mixture for Red Wine

[Midwest Maven]

These recipes sound great I'm so gonna try some of these for Christmas parties coming up!

[SwedePower]

Glogg... I know it well.

My parent's have made it around the holidays when my Swedish family gathers.

Their recipe calls for burning off some of the alcohol vapors (not sure what that process is called). Essentially, while it was simmering on the stove, my father would hold a lit match adjacent the lid. My mother would carefully, and quickly, open the lid and then close it again almost immediately. The result was a small fireball.
(Please don't do that if your recipe doesn't call for it.)

Served warm, and very strong, it's best enjoyed while you're absolutely freezing (in my opinion). For example, there's a small Swedish settlement near where I grew up... Bishop Hill, Ill. They have an annual Santa Lucia celebration in early December. All the small shops are open and it's very festive. The bar at the end of the street makes Glogg. It hits the spot when you're really cold. My only advice is never take the first glass or two... or make sure it's stirred well.

I wouldn't call it my drink of choice, but if I'm going to keep my Swedish heritage alive and well it's one of the things I need to do from time to time (like consuming lutfisk).

[Molly53]

Hi and welcome to the forums, chef. Nice to meet you!

Please click on FAQ's and Additional Information, a thread full of clickable links and explanations that you'll find invaluable as you start to move around the site.

You're going to LOVE it here!

[stormylee]

It's glögg time again, people!

[Lilla]

Yay! I like mine with almonds and raisens.

[KissKiss]

Oh, I'm so in the mood to make this! It has snowed here, and I want a warm nip of something. Thanks for posting my glogg recipe above!

[Esther in Atlanta, GA]

So do I

[Rita~]

Mulled Spiced Wine Bone Warming!

This one English Bishop calls for port


Grog Spicy and Sweet

[stormylee]

Let's heat and spice things up for the holiday season!

[stormylee]

Now, how can I have missed this recipe: Dk's Swedish Glögg ? I haven't had glögg with aquavit before, but since I am in possession of an aquavit bottle that I got in Copenhagen earlier this year, I rather think I soon will!