My long love affair with a nightly glass of red wine is over, and mulled pomegranate cider is helping me replace not just the wine, but the evening ritual I loved. It’s a warm, spiced, non-alcoholic drink for darker days and the holiday season.
I’ve mentioned this many times over the years, but I bookend my day with my morning coffee and my nightly glass of red wine. That little routine is surprisingly important to me, and while I’ve tried a few times to give up the wine, it hasn’t stuck. But this time is different, I can tell. Recently, my nightly glass started triggering a kind of ringing in my ears. It turns out alcohol can do that for some people, and while it’s not dangerous, it’s uncomfortable enough that I know I’m done.
The hard part is replacing the ritual
For me, giving up wine is about more than just finding something else to drink. It’s replacing that moment at the end of the day when I pour a glass, shift gears, and officially call it quits. Especially once the days get short, that little ritual matters.
So I’m not interested in replacing it with a glass of water. I want something with flavor and a little ceremony to it ~ something I actually look forward to pouring at 6:30.
Preserving the antioxidants
One bonus about red wine is that it comes with some antioxidant upside. Luckily, plenty of alcohol-free choices do too:
- pomegranates
- cranberries
- red and purple grapes
- red, blue, and purple berries
They’re all rich in plant compounds with antioxidant activity, and I’ve been using them to make drinks that feel a little more interesting than plain water.
This hot mulled pomegranate cider is one of my favorites. I make a batch, keep it in the fridge, and warm up a mug when 6:30 rolls around.
How to mull pomegranate cider
Mulling is an old-fashioned way of gently heating cider, wine, or juice with whole spices so the flavors slowly infuse the drink. The cinnamon and clove give you that classic holiday flavor, while cardamom, star anise, ginger, and peppercorns make it more complex and keep the sweetness in check. The exact combination of spices can vary according to your taste ~ see my recipe for mulling spices here.
For this version I gently heat the juices with the following (keep the heat low and don’t let it boil)
- cinnamon
- cardamom
- clove
- star anise
- ginger
- peppercorns
- orange peel
- rosemary
My secret ingredient
A tea bag is the surprise optional ingredient that gives the drink a little tannic edge and keeps it from being too sweet. You can use your favorite black or herbal tea.
Make it once, pour all week
This is the kind of drink that gets better when you make it ahead. Simmer the cider, pomegranate juice, and spices, strain it, and keep it chilled in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Then when you want a cup, just pour what you need into a mug and warm it in the microwave or in a small saucepan. No measuring, no steeping, no evening project ~ it’s ready when you are.
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Pomegranate Mulled Cider
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 2 cups pure pomegranate juice, unsweetened
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 whole star anise
- 4 –5 thin slices fresh ginger
- 6 black peppercorns
- 3 wide strips orange peel
- 1 small sprig fresh rosemary
- Optional: 1 black tea bag, for a little tannin and dryness*
Instructions
- Combine the apple cider, pomegranate juice, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, ginger, peppercorns, and orange peel in a large saucepan.
- Bring just to a simmer, then lower the heat and let the cider gently steep for 20–30 minutes. Avoid a hard boil.
- Add the rosemary during the last 5–10 minutes so its flavor stays fresh rather than becoming too strong.
- If using the black tea, add the tea bag during the last 3–4 minutes, then remove it.
- Strain out the spices and serve hot.
This looks wonderful. One question – do you strain out the spices before storing it in the fridge? I wonder if the taste of the spices would get too strong if you didn’t and it sat in the fridge for several days.
You can do it either way, but I strain them out, I do think it would get too strong for my taste if it sat with the spices.
Good for you Sue! I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions, but changing / developing better habits is always in the front of my mind. I don’t drink very often anymore, but have a love of sweets that needs to be stopped! Happy New Year my friend!
Such a gorgeous color, can’t wait to try this cider!
I don’t drink alcohol at all, I never have, so I’m always excited to find fun drinks that so include it. This one looks so inviting.
Thanks Juli!
I only drink a glass of wine on occasion—maybe once a month max, but even that messes with my sleep! But I often grow tired of my decaf tea in the evening, so this mulled cider is a fabulous option. Happy New Year, Sue!!! xo
I really appreciate alcohol-free drink recipes. I never drank much but have recently given it up entirely due to health issues. It really is not as hard as it might seem and the benefits are immense.
Love this post, Sue, and I’ve honestly been thinking of doing the same thing in the new year. It’s all for the same reasons – I am so much more productive when I haven’t had a couple cocktails the night before. Like you, I will have a social drink now and then but it’s time to cut out happy hour. You’ve given me the incentive and now I need to stick to it.
Love this drink and it will be perfect for tonight’s party. Happy New Year to you and yours, friend!
Sue can you please give us a. Calories count per glass I will be making this and it’s so Positive and a new lifestyle thank you ! Barb
I just updated with that info, Barbara. Thanks!
no worries! I still had half left, so I can tell your readers it is AWESOME! And you know how I enjoyed it too? POured over ice, maybe 1/4 cup at the bottom of the glass, filled with carbonated water – excellent drink, the spices seem to come to life even more, which surprised me…
thanks for a great drink recipe!
Oh I’m so glad, I had such an awful vision of you scalded Sally! I love the idea of having it over ice, I wouldn’t have thought of that. Cheers 🙂
Sue I’m just going to make this you call for 128 0unces that’s 16 cups is that right and Congradulations! For posting and the positive action you have taken to be a healthier you ~ you inspired me this morning after I g reading your post as that too is do me thank you from The Okanagan Valley Oliver BC Canada
Hi Barbara ~ 128 ounces is 16 cups, but the amounts are very flexible, the main thing is to enhance the apple cider with pomegranate juice, and you can do that to taste. More or less pomegranate juice will work just fine. I’m so glad I was able to inspire you <3 ~ stay warm!
You are smart and brave Sue! Scott and I went 10 years without a drink and didn’t miss it. It’s so easy to let little habits sneak up on you and then become very difficult to break. I’m with you on the balance part though too, so important in all areas of life.
You put it exactly right, those habits sneak up on you ~ it’s so important to stay alert.