The surprising health benefits of mulled wine! (2024)

FAQs

The surprising health benefits of mulled wine!? ›

It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that may assist in lowering inflammation in the body. The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits.

Mulled wine is essentially red wine simmered with various cozy spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise that give it a delicious, spiced flavor. You can make it with brandy or another dark liquor for an extra kick!

It was first popular along the Romans, who would drink hot spiced wine in the winter. As the Roman Empire spread across Europe, so did its partiality for hot red wine. People added different herbs and spices for sweetness, to make bad quality wine taste better, and because they believed in their health benefits.

“The cinnamon in mulled wine has been shown to have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, reducing swelling and restoring normal tissue function. “This may help conditions like arthritis. The antioxidants in red wine and in cloves can also help reduce inflammation.

Although mulled wine has a lower alcohol content, when over-consumed, the natural and added sugars in mulled wine can spike your blood sugar levels rapidly, which can also cause headaches the next day. This is due to hyperglycemia, or reactive hypoglycemia, an over or under-compensation of glucose in your bloodstream.

The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits. Resveratrol is associated with heart health benefits and may help protect the lining of blood vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent blood clots. When consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.

Having a glass of wine or other "nightcap" before bed has long been thought of as a way to help someone sleep, especially if it's a warm drink like a hot toddy, a brandy, or mulled wine since the temperature allegedly promotes sleepiness.

This drink is consumed enormously in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is called Glögg and Gløgg respectively (terms meaning "mulled wine" in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is mainly consumed under the name Glühwein.

But what makes mulled wine so distinctive? One of the major players in its flavour is cinnamon whose main protagonist is the compound imaginatively named, cinnamaldehyde. Additionally, clove is key to the mulled wine flavour and its main influencer is the compound eugenol.

With the goal of consuming the alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season. But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.

Is mulled wine fattening? ›

“Alternatively, you could add more flavourings, spices and lemon juice and not add sugar or sweeteners at all.” The joys of a simple glass of wine are savoured by many of us - but sadly that's a whopping 220 calories you're quaffing right there.

Pinot Noir and Merlot Have LOTS of Resveratrol

Specifically, it has incredibly high levels of resveratrol. Resveratrol is easily the most widely known polyphenol in wine. Its anti-inflammatory powers are so well studied it's even used in many cosmetics and dietary supplements.

Unless you can tolerate spirits, you may want to avoid seasonal co*cktails, such as eggnog (which can contain brandy or bourbon) or mulled wine (which can contain rum). Stick with beer or wine instead, which may not cause heartburn to the same extent as other types of alcohol, according to a study published in 2021.

If you took a sip of the supposedly festive drink, then lit a flame and blew, it would ignite. At least, that's how it feels. Then there's the overpowering hit of cloves, star anise and cinnamon. These are ingredients that benefit from restraint – restraint always flagrantly ignored by nefarious mulled-wine makers.

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.

The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

The main ingredients of alcoholic glögg are red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit, rum or brandy.

Does the alcohol cook out when making mulled wine? In short, yes, some of the alcohol burns off when boiling mulled wine, but you should only be gently bringing up to the boil and simmering for around 15-30 minutes which isn't enough time to completely remove all alcohol traces.

This Orange Chai Mulled Wine is truly intoxicating. A simmering pot of bold red spirits meets ripe winter citrus and spices for the perfect yuletide beverage. This recipe is an easy one to scale up so you can spread max holiday cheer.

This drink is consumed enormously in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is called Glögg and Gløgg respectively (terms meaning "mulled wine" in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is mainly consumed under the name Glühwein.