Yummy beverages to beat the cold

As winter sets in its time for warm, rich and creamy beverages. The chills bring out a change in the closet with the addition of mittens, socks, gloves and beanies. Similarly, the kitchen also transforms into an aromatic cosy comforter with warm spices, hot drinks and spicy food.  

Let’s enjoy a few body warming beverages. 

Winter Sangria

Cook time: 6-7 minutes 

Makes: 2 cups 

Type: Beverage 

Ingredients: 

Tropical fruit flavoured tea: 2-3 teabags 

Orange: 2 

Apple: 1 

Cinnamon: ½-inch stick 

Clove: 1 

Star Anise: 1 

Sugar: 1-2 tsp 

Caster sugar: 1 tsp 

Whipping cream: ½ cup 

Method: 

1. Prepare an orange peel for the tea. For this, wash the oranges and carefully peel the skin of the oranges with a sharp knife. Only the peel has to be removed, not the white pith under the skin. 
2. Chop the apples finely. 
3. Skin and de-seed the orange and chop them finely too.  
4. Beat the cream with a teaspoon of caster sugar till stiff peaks are formed. 
5. For the tea, take 2 cups of water and the spices and let this brew on a slow flame for 3-4 minutes. Once a nice aroma comes, add the tea bags and let it simmer for another couple of minutes. 
6. To enjoy this soothing beverage, add a teaspoon of apple and ¼ teaspoon of orange into a teacup. 
7. Sieve and pour the brewed tea over the fruits. Add sugar to taste. A pinch of cinnamon powder also enhances the taste.  
8. Top up the warm fruity tea with stiffly beaten cream. Do not mix. 
9. Slurp a sip of tea through the cream. 

Golden Latte

Cook time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 2 cups 

Type: Beverage 

Ingredients: 

Water: ¼ cup 

Full cream milk: 2 cups 

Fresh turmeric: ¼ inch  

Dry ginger powder: a pinch 

Saffron: a few strands 

Green cardamom: 2 

Condensed milk: 3-4 tbsp 

Almonds: 3-4 

Method: 

1. Grate the fresh organic turmeric. Pound the green cardamom. Chop the almonds in slivers.   
2. After the preparation, take water in a vessel and boil it with grated organic fresh turmeric.  
3. Once it starts to boil, add milk, dry ginger powder and green cardamom powder. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes. The milk would have turned into a nice golden hue. It is now time to add saffron. Let the saffron infuse the milk with all its goodness. This will take a minute or so. Ensure to leave the milk on low flame. 
4. Add condensed milk and simmer for another minute. 
5. Prepare two cups with almond slivers. Pour in the creamy gorgeous beverage. A perfect winter drink to enjoy by the fireplace.

Desi Eggnog

Cook time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 2 cups 

Type: Beverage 

Ingredients:  

Milk: 2 cups 

Water: ¼ cup 

Nutmeg powder: 1 tsp 

Cinnamon powder: 1 tsp 

Caramel Syrup: 2 tbsp 

Egg yolk: 2 

Cream: ¼ cup 

Method: 

1. Take a pan and mix milk and water. Put it to boil. 
2. When it starts boiling, add the nutmeg and cinnamon powder. Let the milk simmer for 8-10 minutes till the flavours infuse well. 
3. Add in the caramel syrup. Check for sweetness. Sugar or finely chopped dates can also be added. 
4. In a bowl beat in egg yolk and cream till it is frothy and pale yellow. 
5. Take the milk off the heat and gradually mix into the egg yolk and cream mixture. Put this creamy mouth-watering eggnog on a slow flame and let it cook for a couple of minutes.   
6. Serve warm. 

 (Tip:  The egg yolks can be reduced to one if you feel it is too eggy smelling or tasting.) 

Masala Cider

Cook time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 2 cups 

Type: Beverage 

Ingredients: 

Apple cider: 2 cups 

Dried berries: ½ cup 

Cinnamon: 1-inch stick 

Brown sugar: to taste  

Almond milk: ½ cup 

Apple: 1 

Vanilla Essence: ½ tsp 

Method: 

1. Take the cider in a pan and add the berries. Put this on a medium flame till it starts to bubble.  
2. Add the cinnamon sticks and sugar.  
3. Simmer for about 5 minutes till the cinnamon is infused into the cider.  
4. Take off the heat and add almond milk, finely chopped apple and vanilla essence.  
5. There is no better way to beat the winter chills than a warmly spiced cider. 

(Tip: Soya milk, condensed milk or coconut milk can be used instead of almond milk.)

Hot Chocolate With A Twist

Cook time: 10 minutes 

Makes: 5 cups 

Type: Beverage  

Ingredients: 

Banana: 2 big 

Chilli powder: ½ tsp 

Sea salt: ½ tsp 

Coconut chocolates: 3-4 

Dark chocolate: 150g bar 

Milk: 5 cups 

Sugar: to taste 

Chocolate sauce: ½ cup 

Whipped cream: for topping 

Chocolate strands: for topping 

Method: 

1. Take a jar and blend in the bananas, chilli powder and salt.  
2. Chop the coconut bars also into the blender and blend well. 
3. Chop the dark chocolate and put it in a pan.  
4. Boil the milk and pour the boiling milk into the chopped chocolate. 
5. Mix in the banana puree. Blend well. More sugar can be added if required. 
6. Prepare tall glasses. Put a couple of tablespoons of chocolate sauce and swirl it well to cover the glass. 
7. Now pour the hot chocolate. Top this with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. 

When the cold wind blows, one needs to take precautions in terms of food intake. Hot food and drinks need to be carefully watched to ensure they are more laden with ingredients that keep us away from the chills and are not just high in calorie. Traditional drinks with black pepper, ginger, honey, tulsi, cinnamon and other common Indian spices always do the trick.