Germany / Drinks
Feuerzangenbowle (German Wine Punch)
Feuerzangenbowle is a traditional German alcoholic drink, often part of a Christmas or New Year's tradition. The name translates literally as "fire-tongs punch". Pay attention to the preparation and don't let drunks light the rum—it can cause nasty burns and you don't want that. The flambéed and caramelised "Zuckerhut" adds the unique flavour to the "Feuerzangenbowle".
Ingredients
- red wine, dry; e.g. Rioja2–3 bottle
- rum, at least 54% alcohol; preferably 80%0.4 L
- orange2
- lemon, optional2
- cinnamon stick1 stick
- cloves5
- gingerbread spice, ground; optional1 pinch
- zuckerhut, lump of white sugar1
Quantities are auto-calculated from the original recipe as a guide. Items without numbers (e.g. “to taste”) are not changed.
Method 8 steps
Put the wine into the feuerzangenbowle bowl, and heat it to about 70 °C.
Wash the fruit with hot water.
Peel the oranges and lemons into thin strips, and add the peel to the wine along with the spices.
Place the feuerzange on the bowl and place the zuckerhut on it.
Put the rum into a soup ladle and pour it over the zuckerhut. Then, carefully light it on fire.
When the flame on the sugar has stopped burning, repeat the process with a fresh ladle of rum. Add the rum very slowly this time or you will burn your hand.
When the sugar has completely dissolved, remove the feuerzange and add another ladle of unburnt rum to the bowl.
Remove all solids (oranges, lemons, cloves, and cinnamon stick) from the bowl from the drink.
