This Is Italy
We all know the famous summer drinks from Italy: Aperol Spritz, Hugo, limonata and so on. But did you know that there are also plenty of Italian winter drinks? Also perfect to get through the coldest days in Northern Europe. Here are 8 of the most famous and delicious Italian drinks for winter.
Table of contents
1. Vin brule
Better known to us as mulled wine. During the holidays this is really a must, especially in the north of Italy. Vin brulé is also eaten together with panettone, for example after the christmas night mass or on the Christmas market.
Vin brulé is made from red wine, orange, apple and lemon combined with typical winter spices such as cinnamon and cloves. Combinations with ginger, anise and nutmeg also occur. Of course, every region has its own recipe.
2. Zabaione
Eggnog (zabaglione in southern Italy) is an eggnog made with beaten egg yolk, sugar and marsala wine. You can serve it warm with biscuits such as the Lingua di Gatto, Amaretti or Savoiardi, but also with a dollop of whipped cream.
This winter drink is sometimes consumed as a dessert. Zabaione is also the main ingredient of the classic winter sports drink under point 3 of this list.
3. Bombardino
A bombardino is a typical winter sports cocktail served warm. In the northern Italian ski resorts, this heartwarmer that hits like a bomb is standard on the menus of the après ski bars.
The bombardino is also made in different variants. In the classic form, the bombardino is warmed in front of you with zabaione (also spelled zabalione).
For the bombardino you use brandy as a base, but you can also just warm up Dutch lawyer. A thick dollop of whipped cream, cinnamon and cocoa on top and your day can not go wrong.
You can find the complete recipe here.
4. Hot chocolate
Cioccolato caldo is just as popular a winter drink in Italy as it is here. Only the emphasis in Italy is not on the milk, but on the chocolate. You drink (eat!) it thick and creamy, the spoon must remain upright in it.
Hot chocolate in Italy is melted chocolate rather than milk. Try this recipe: melt some dark chocolate in preheated whole milk with a little sugar. Add some milk and cook on low heat.
If you want even more winter atmosphere, add cinnamon, cloves, ginger, orange or even chili peppers.
5. Ponce Livornese
Ponce (punch) is a special winter drink from Livorno. It is a mixture of rum and coffee that is said to aid digestion.
The ponce originated under the influence of the large British community in Tuscany. The original composition of this English punch included 5 ingredients: tea, sugar, cinnamon, lemon and rum or cognac.
The winter drink is often served with a slice of lemon. You can buy it ready-made in the bottle in Italy.
6. Ponce al Mandarino
This bright orange tangerine punch is the replacement for Aperol-Spritz in winter. Ponce al Mandarino is not made with coffee, but with mandarins and has a high alcohol content of 47%.
This mandarin liqueur has been warming villages and towns on the Tuscan coast on cold winter days for over 100 years. You should drink it neat, or with a short spray of steam from the espresso machine, garnished with the classic lemon zest.
With its orange color it should also be able to catch on in the Netherlands as a heart warmer for the cold winter months.
7. Caffe amaretto
When we talk about hot Italian drinks, we cannot ignore the coffee. The caffè amaretto is a classic Italian coffee with a 'tic' of Amaretto, the sweet liqueur from Saronno in Lombardy.
Coffee and almonds combine very well. To finish the winter drink, you can garnish it with almonds and a dollop of whipped cream.
Fancy more Italian coffee variations this winter? Then look here.
8. Sidro di mele caldo (hot apple cider)
Nothing is more wintery than warm apples with cinnamon, right? You can taste the flavors of winter with this classic Italian winter drink.
Making it at home is very easy and there are countless variations to enrich the classic recipe. Bring the cider to a boil, along with pieces of fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves and brown sugar to taste. Perfect to combine with a piece of warm apple pie (cake of me).
There also is a alcohol-free variant that you make with apples and water instead of cider. Of course you can also use apple juice.
What's your personal favourite? Enjoy these Italian winter drinks and stay warm this winter!
Sources: Giallo Zaffarano, Italy Magazine, miramonticorteno.com
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