Starting new family traditions

I have been wanting to start new family traditions. Celebrations, rituals and festivities that connect us to the seasons and each other. Nothing complicated, simplicity and joy are a must.

This past winter I thought a good way to start was to make a delicious hot drink. One that we could make every winter and its smell would make us instantly feel cosy, homely and remind us the season we were in. I thought first of making Mexican ponche de frutas, of course, but guavas, sugar cane and tejocotes don’t grow in Aotearoa so I had to find a replacement.

Connecting memories to the senses

The Mexican ponche de frutas is an awesome hot drink that brings me lots of good memories. The smell and taste are glorious, but it’s the rituals around it that I’m most fond of.

I grew up in the big smoke, Mexico City, but my best memories are of us leaving the city to go into nature. I vividly remember one winter when El Tito (grandad) took us to the countryside to forage tejocotes to make ponche, membrillo (fruit paste) and tejocotes en almibar (fruit in syrup). He knew all the magical spots where the tejocote trees grew and so we went on an excursion to the wilderness with all our whānau (extended family). Back at grandma’s place, we all helped with the making of the treats and had a great time together. It was a wonderful day. Our senses were delighted with views of the beautiful wilderness, the sounds of our laughs, the wonderful smells travelling everywhere from the kitchen, the awesome taste of the treats and the touch of the tejocotes. I can still see and feel that day today.

We also enjoyed ponche de frutas with our neighbours around Christmas. People in our street would organise a sort of street party as part of a Catholic celebration called posadas. It was good fun and you could feel the wonderful community spirit. The smell of ponche de frutas brings me back all those memories and I want that for my family. I want them to experience the joy of those sensory treats and associate them to the magical memories we will be creating.

Finding the perfect winter hot drink

Finding a replacement hot drink was not going to be easy but in an internet search I came across Wassail. A seasonal hot drink made with apples and dark ale beer? Yes, please! I would very much like to try that, I love a good stout and dark ale beer, and apples are a staple at home. I experimented with a recipe that sounded particularly good, made some adjustments and added (of course) a Mexican touch. And just like that, I found the perfect replacement. My, my, it was delicious and it ticked all the boxes. It has a beautiful spicy flavour, it’s wonderfully aromatic (it flooded the house with an amazing smell) and boy, was it comforting. The only downside is that it’s not kid-friendly, but that could be a project for next year.

The origins of Wassail are also lovely. Apparently in pre-Christian traditions (Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon), wassailing involved groups of people visiting orchards to sing to apple trees and encourage a good harvest. Getting together and singing to the trees! Maybe that could be us next year? I mean, we do have a couple of apple trees in the garden [lets out a cheeky giggle].

The Wassail recipe (makes 4 cups or 2 big mugs)

So here it is: our new winter ritual, carrying good old folk traditions, sensory joy and the possibility of happy memories and communal joy in a single mug.

Ingredients

2 cans dark ale (330 ml each)
2 fresh red apples, diced
½–1 orange (juice only)
1 Tb lemon juice
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
A dash (1 ml) vanilla essence
Small piece of fresh ginger (about 3 cm), cut into 4 pieces (I pop mine into a mesh tea ball)
1½–2 Tb piloncillo (this gives it the Mexican touch—you can find it in Aotearoa)
½ cup frozen blueberries (optional)

Method

Place all ingredients in a pot, stir gently to combine.
Bring to a low simmer over gentle heat.
Cover with a lid and let brew for about 30 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly, then ladle into your favorite mugs.

Enjoy—a spicy, fruity hot drink with just a touch of bitter. Your cozy winter in a mug!

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