What to drink?

All the countries around the world who celebrate Christmas have a traditional Christmas drink. Many are alcoholic, but some are just a warming beverage. Whatever your preference, there will be a recipe in the following list that takes your fancy.

Our very own traditional Christmas drink is the Qastan ta L-imbuljuta - this is usually served after midnight mass or on New Year's Eve, filling the air with a spicy aroma of chocolate and citrus. Made out of dried shelled chestnuts, raisins, cocoa powder, sugar, citrus, anisette and mixed with spices and cloves, this drink turns into delicious soup and warm drink that can be served either hot or cold, but always tastes better the next day!

One of the most famous Christmas drinks hails from Germany, a hot, mulled wine known as Gluhwein. This is very easy to make and thoroughly delicious. You will need a bottle of red wine, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 lemon, 2 sticks of cinnamon, 2 cloves and 1 tsp of either ginger or cardomen. Heat the wine slowly; remember that alcohol has a very low boiling point so make sure it doesn't boil, otherwise you will end up with hot grape juice! Finely slice the lemon and add to the hot liquid. Then add the sugar and spice and allow the liquid to cool to just above room temperature. Serve it immediately through a strainer. Sprinkle the top with the cardomen or ginger.

A cafe Mexicano is a great, non alcoholic beverage. Start with a really strong brewed coffee and keep it hot. Stir ½ cup of heavy cream until it thickens; pour 1tsp of chocolate syrup into each cup. Pour a small amount of into each cup and pop them into microwave oven for 1 minute, ensuring that the water doesn't boil away. Remove and throw out the excess water. Add the coffee into the cups and blend with the chocolate, sprinkle on nutmeg and cinnamon and top with the cream, delicious!

Our American friends have many weird and wonderful Christmas drink recipes. One of the nicest, and simplest, is the Cranberry sparkler, which frequently accompanies their Christmas dinner, as opposed to ordinary wine. Pour equal measures of sparkling white wine or champagne and cranberry juice into a champagne glass. Drop in a cranberry for garnish and voila, a cranberry sparkler. Use lemonade instead of wine for the children so they can join in the fun too.

A great cocktail to originate in the ski resorts is a snow Cosmo, a seasonal twist on the famous cosmopolitan cocktail. In a cocktail shaker put 2 ounces of Vodka, 1 ounce of lemon juice, 3 ounces of white cranberry juice and ice. Give it a good shake and strain into a tall glass and garnish with cranberries, simple and delicious.

Whatever your favourite Christmas drink is, have a very merry Christmas!