Mulling It Over: Three Ways to Get Your Winter Spice On

There's something rather wonderful about a saucepan of warming spices bubbling away on a winter evening.

The cinnamon, the citrus, the star anise… suddenly the house smells like Christmas and everything feels a little more festive.

Our Mulling It Over spice blend brings together dried orange peel, cinnamon bark, star anise, cloves, allspice berries, green cardamom pods, black peppercorns and pink peppercorns.

We've done the blending, so all you need to do is choose your tipple.

Here are three of our favourite ways to use it.

Classic Mulled Wine

Rich, warming and wonderfully festive.

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750ml) fruity red wine

• 1–2 tablespoons Mulling It Over spices

• 1 orange, sliced

• 1–2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup or erythritol, to taste

• A splash of brandy (optional)

Method

1. Pour the wine into a saucepan and add the mulling spices and orange slices.

2. Warm gently over a low heat for 15–20 minutes, without allowing it to boil.

3. Add your chosen sweetener and stir until dissolved.

4. Add a splash of brandy if you're feeling particularly festive.

5. Strain into heatproof glasses or mugs and serve warm.

Sage tip: Keep the heat low. Boiling mulled wine is a rather expensive way to evaporate the good stuff.

Spiced Mulled Cider

Apple, spice and everything nice.

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

• 1 litre traditional apple cider

• 1–2 tablespoons Mulling It Over spices

• 1 apple, thinly sliced

• 1 tablespoon honey or erythritol (optional)

• A strip of fresh orange peel

Method

1. Add the cider, spices, apple slices and orange peel to a saucepan.

2. Warm gently for 15–20 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse.

3. Taste and add a little sweetness if needed.

4. Strain and serve warm, garnished with a fresh apple slice.

Sage tip: A good-quality dry cider works beautifully here. The natural sweetness of the apples balances the warming spices without needing too much extra sugar.

Mulled Apple Juice

All the festive magic. None of the booze.

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

• 1 litre cloudy apple juice

• 1–2 tablespoons Mulling It Over spices

• 1 orange, sliced

• A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

• Honey, erythritol or maple syrup, if needed

Method

1. Pour the apple juice into a saucepan.

2. Add the spices and orange slices.

3. Warm gently over a low heat for 15–20 minutes.

4. Add a little lemon juice to balance the sweetness.

5. Strain into mugs and enjoy.

Sage tip: This is particularly lovely for festive gatherings when you want something special for everyone, including the designated drivers.

A Little Mulling Wisdom

All three recipes are easy to adjust to your taste. Start with a tablespoon of spices and add more if you prefer a stronger infusion.

Remember to strain the whole spices before serving, and never leave a saucepan unattended.

Ready to get mulling?

Pick up your jar of Mulling It Over from The Sage Apothecary in Bideford and let the festive alchemy begin.

Because a little spice makes everything nice. Even in November.

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