An alternative mulled wine recipe, using natural sweeteners, in the event that you do not have a Steenbergs Mulled wine Sachet or Mixed Spice mix to hand, or you fancy a warming wine using ingredients from your store cupboard, that leaves a wonderful chilli glow in your palate! The use of dates and raisins ensures that you do not have to use any sugar or artificial sweeteners - and you have some delicious wine-soaked fruit to have with a little cream as a treat for pudding! A wonderful warming drink to serve on Bonfire Night, Christmas Eve or New Years Eve, but who needs an excuse to serve this winter warmer!

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine
8 organic pitted dates cut in half
4 oz organic raisins
2 Steenbergs organic cinnamon quills
15 Steenbergs organic cardamom pods, opened and seeds crushed
5 Steenbergs organic cloves
1 tsp Steenbergs organic crushed chilli flakes
1 tsp Steenbergs Fairtrade organic vanilla extract
1 cm cubed fresh ginger, sliced
1 cup orange juice

Method

Put the wine, dates, raisins, quills and cloves in a bowl. Cover and leave overnight.
Put the wine and fruits in a saucepan. Add all other ingredients and warm very slowly on a low heat for about forty minutes. Do not boil, but when the wine is warm strain into a jug to avoid cloves etc going to glasses. Pour into glasses and serve straight away.