Sparkling Holiday Punch

/

Here come the holidays. People will be gathering with friends and families, and they’re going to be thirsty. Enter punch, the fruity, colorful beverage ladled out of a big bowl or pot. Here are a few points about punch and a recipe for your holiday get-togethers.

  • The drink’s name may have come from the Indian word paantsch (meaning “five”.) This particular recipe originated in India and was taken to England by the East India Company in the late 1600s.was usually made with five ingredients: an alcoholic beverage, lemon or lime juice, sugar, spices, and water.

  • However, Englanders had already been drinking their own type of punch for 400 years:  the ancient wassail, a hot drink made with ale, wine, or brandy, mulled cider, and spices.   

  • “Punch” the name may also have been derived from the Old French poinchon to the Middle English puncheon for a large cask, around 100 gallons, that carries liquids or other materials.

  • A popular punch made in the South of the United States is sweet bourbon punch made with sweet tea, bourbon, and citrus juices, especially during the Kentucky Derby.

  • Mexican ponche is made with prunes, pears, star anise, dried hibiscus, and tejocotes, a crabapple-like fruit from the hawthorn tree and served warm for the Christmas season.

  • “Burnt punch,” Feuerzangenbowle (or “fire tongs punch,”) is a German New Year’s Eve favorite. A giant sugar cube is placed in a punch bowl, and red wine and flaming rum are poured over it.

Recipe for Sparkling Holiday Punch

40 ounces of cranberry juice (not cranberry juice cocktail, but 100% cranberry blended with fruit juice)

1 bottle each of tonic water and sparkling lemonade (or two bottles of dry sparkling wine—Prosecco, Cava)

1 bottle of sparkling apple juice

12-ounce can of ginger ale

2 oranges, cut into thin slices

1 cup of fresh cranberries

Enough ice cubes to fill half of the punch bowl

To Make:  Pour ice into punch bowl to half full. Make sure all liquid ingredients are chilled. Pour all liquids over the ice and stir gently. Add orange slices and cranberries and ladle into cups. [Note: if making the alcoholic version, 1 ½ cups of dark rum or brandy can be added.]