16 Popular German Christmas Drinks That You Need to Try
Every year in Germany, people look forward to the time when they can enjoy delicious, gluhwein with family and friends. But mulled wine is not the only drink that Germans like to enjoy during the Advent time and Christmas season.
German Winter & Christmas Market Drinks – more than Glühwein
If you look around the stalls at traditional German Christmas markets, you'll find not only the famous mulled wine but also a host of specialty drinks that couldn't be more different. Sometimes these have funny names. For example, there's Tote Tante (dead aunt), heiße Oma (hot granny) or Jagertee (hunter's tea) - sounds funny, but they all taste great!
I have compiled a Top 15 list of the most popular German Christmas beverages for you.
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- German Winter & Christmas Market Drinks – more than Glühwein
- 1. “Glühwein” German Mulled Wine
- 2. „Kinderpunsch“ Children´s Punch - Non Alcoholic Gluhwein
- 3. Glühbier Mulled Beer
- 4. Grog
- 5. "Jagertee" Boozy Tea Specialty
- 6. “Heisser Hugo” Hot Elder-Flower Punch
- 7. „Tote Tante“ Hot Chocolate with Rum
- 8. "Pharisäer" German Coffee With Rum And Whipped Cream
- 9. “Heiße Oma” German Style Eggnog
- 10. “Eierpunsch” Hot Egg Punch
- 11. “Heiße Schokolade” Hot Chocolate with Winter Spices
- 12. „Feuerzangenbowle“ German Mulled Wine Specialty
- 13. “Bowle” German Boozy Fruit Punch
- 14. „Verdauungsschnaps“ Fruit or Herb Spirit
- 15. „Eierlikör“ German Egg Liquer aka Advocaat
- 16. „Kaffee & Tee“ Coffee & Tea
1. “Glühwein” German Mulled Wine
Glühwein is the German version of mulled wine. At German Christmas markets, in addition to the classic red mulled wine, you can also find many different variations of the delicious hot drink, such as white wine & orange mulled wine, blueberry gluhwein or baked apple gluhwein and many more.
Tradtional German Gluhwein Recipe
White Wine Orange Gluhwein Recipe
2. „Kinderpunsch“ Children´s Punch - Non Alcoholic Gluhwein
Kinderpunsch "Children's punch" is a great alternative to mulled wine - not only for the little ones, but for everyone who wants to do without alcohol. For the alcohol-free children's punch, you put fruit tea in a pot, add fruit juice, as well as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and sugar. Everything is mixed well and heated briefly.
Kinderpunsch Non-Alcoholic Gluhwein Recipe
3. Glühbier Mulled Beer
Mulled beer, also known as glühbier, is the perfect winter drink for beer lovers. Enjoy the warmth of this traditional German drink, made with your favorite beer, spices, honey and a secret ingredient. Its unique blend of flavors is a perfect way to ward off the cold winter chill. So grab a mug, sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious mulled beer this winter season.
Mulled Beer aka Glühbier Recipe
4. Grog
A hot grog is a hearty treat in a social gathering after a long winter walk. Grog is a mixed drink of rum, water and sugar, which is usually drunk very hot. The old saying "rum must, sugar may, water can" sets the tone. In the north, around Flensburg, grog is drunk all year round, but everywhere else it is reserved for the cold season and, along with Jagertee and Glühwein, it is one of the classics at the Christmas market.
5. "Jagertee" Boozy Tea Specialty
The legendary hot drink from Austria is a mixture of black tea, red wine, rum and/or Obstler (German fruit spirit) and a few spices. It warms in the cold winter season and is therefore also very popular with the Germans during the Christmas season and especially at the ski-lodges.
6. “Heisser Hugo” Hot Elder-Flower Punch
The "Hugo" is a popular drink in Germany, and not just in the summer. Germans love the taste so much that a winter variant has also become established. A welcomed change from the traditional winter flavors found in most wintertime drinks. It is prepared with white wine, elder-flower syrup, lemon and mint and served hot instead of on ice like the summer version of the drink.
7. „Tote Tante“ Hot Chocolate with Rum
"Tote Tante" (dead aunt) belongs to the German wintertime and is especially popular in the northern parts of Germany. This hot chocolate drink flavored with alcohol. It has many names and there are many variations. Some recipes call for Amaretto or kirsch. But the traditional "Tote Tante" is made with rum!
8. "Pharisäer" German Coffee With Rum And Whipped Cream
If you love coffee drinks, this Frisian coffee specialty with rum drink and a generous dollop of whipped cream is a great choice. Pharisee coffee has a neat little story to it, that is a great story to tell at you next Kaffeeklatsch. You can find the background story and the German Coffee Recipe here.
9. “Heiße Oma” German Style Eggnog
Another delicious hot drink is the German Christmas time is called "Heiße Oma" (hot grandma). A simple recipe that tastes wonderful. Die "Heiße Oma" consists of whole milk, sugar and delicious Eierlikör.
10. “Eierpunsch” Hot Egg Punch
"Eierpunsch" egg punch is like "Heiße Oma" similar to eggnog but made with white wine and orange juice instead of milk.
11. “Heiße Schokolade” Hot Chocolate with Winter Spices
A creamy hot chocolate, spiced with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and maybe even a little pinch of chili. Served with or without a whipped cream topping, it's guaranteed to warm you up wonderfully after a long winter walk.
12. „Feuerzangenbowle“ German Mulled Wine Specialty
The winter season has barely begun and it's time for "Feuerzangenbowle" again! Of course, you can buy it at the Christmas market in Germany. However, it is even nicer to simply make the "Feuerzangenbowle" in your cozy home.
The most important ingredients for an original "Feuerzangenbowle" are rum with at least 54% alcohol by volume, red wine and a sugar hat, a tall cone of white, refined sugar. Depending on the recipe, spices such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise as well as orange and lemon are essential for the taste of this lovely drink.
13. “Bowle” German Boozy Fruit Punch
he 50s and 60s, "Bowle" was THE popular party drink. And even today, the delicious drink that consists of wine, champagne, fruit and sometimes spirits is enjoyed in the summer at barbecues, but also to the winter festivities.
14. „Verdauungsschnaps“ Fruit or Herb Spirit
Obstler or Obstwasser (German fruit brandy) and Korn or Schnaps (schnapps) are often served as digestifs. The digestif, or digestive liquor, is the crowning finale of any Christmas dinner with the family. It is the counterpart to the aperitif, which is served before the meal, and is supposed to boost digestion. Science cannot confirm this, but who would like to give up a wonderful custom that is so tasty.
15. „Eierlikör“ German Egg Liquer aka Advocaat
The classic Eierlikör is popular all year round, but especially popular during the Christmas season. Whether straight, in a cake recipe or in a dessert, the sweet liqueur always tastes delicious.
Egg liqueur traditionally consists of alcohol, egg yolk and sugar and has about 20% alcohol content. You can find Verpoorten Advocaat (the most popular brand of Eierlikör) in all German supermarkets, it is harder to get in the United States. But this that not a problem, as you can easily make it yourself.
16. „Kaffee & Tee“ Coffee & Tea
A good cup of coffee or tea is often served with a delicious dessert after the Christmas meal. Germans are known worldwide as coffee drinkers, but tea is also enjoyed in German households. Especially in the north, the so-called "Friesentee" (Frisian tea) is very popular.
And of course, coffee and tea are also enjoyed during the famous German coffee hour, traditionally celebrated at around 4 pm, and enjoyed with German Christmas cookies or Stollen aka German Christmas bread during the Holiday season.
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