We enjoy a mug of a hot drink on cold winter evenings at home, preferably with various herbs from the Greek countryside or with cocoa (with or without milk). The options are many and different. Instead of finding a ready-made drink from the supermarket, we can make our own, using our favourite spices. Or to add extra flavour to a classic drink, such as chocolate or tea.
What are the spices that give a drink another kick?
The most important of all is cinnamon. It can be used as a spice-passepartout in whatever drink I try, and it even makes an excellent flavour chord with other spices. Other spices that go well with cinnamon and enhance our drinks are cloves, ginger, chilli...
We have below three different suggestions for autumn drinks where spices have the first word:
Hot chocolate with ginger, chilli and clove
Chocolate with ginger is a tried and tested combination with a fanatic audience, especially in the circles of those who love peppery flavours in their sweets. Among them, I also, who, however, gave a spicier character to my drink, adding ginger and a more aromatic tone, complete with a bit of ground clove powder.
Ingredients
200 ml whole milk
1 1/2 tsp. cocoa soup (unsweetened)
1 tsp. molasses soup
1/3 tsp. sweet ginger (powder)
1/3 tsp. sweet cinnamon (powder)
1/8 tsp. sweet cloves (powder)
One pinch of chilli powder (depending on how hot we want it)
Procedure
Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and let them come to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. For extra sweetness, we can add a teaspoon of honey, while if we have a dairy intolerance, we can try the same recipe with plant-based almond milk.
Almond milk with turmeric, ginger and black pepper
Also known as golden milk, this hot drink with turmeric, ginger and black pepper has, in recent years, become the ultimate trend worldwide in the kitchens of those thoroughly involved in natural medicine. Tonic, soothing on cold winter days and nights and with super energising spices known for their beneficial effect on our body.
Ingredients
200 ml plant-based almond milk (oat substitutes)
1 tsp. sweet turmeric (powder)
One cinnamon stick
½ tsp. sweet ginger (powder)
One pinch of black pepper
1 tsp. sweet honey
1 tsp. sweet coconut sugar
Procedure
Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and let them come to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for a while longer, stirring constantly. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve in a large mug. If we like it sweeter, we can add half a teaspoon of coconut sugar.
Mountain tea with apple and cinnamon
The king of drinks, especially winter ones, mountain tea, when blended with fruits and spices, highlights its intoxicating aromas even more strongly and, of course, takes off in taste as well. Its combination, especially with apple skins and, of course, with cinnamon (with which it goes perfectly), results in our mug, one of the interesting proposals in hot homemade drinks.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups of water
Five sprigs of mountain tea
peels from an apple (we have first washed very well)
One stick of cinnamon
1 tsp. spoonful of honey
Procedure
Let all the ingredients boil in a saucepan over medium heat for 7-8'. Remove from heat and stir. Strain and serve in a large cup. Add the honey and mix.
READ MORE: Ioannina: 4 of the very best tavernas for authentic Epirote food.
