Winter Punch – non-alcoholic

Belvoir non-alcoholic winter punch with elderberry and spices

Belvoir non-alcoholic winter punch is a ready-to-drink spiced punch made from red grape juice with elderberry, blackcurrant, and orange, seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. In England, it is known as Mulled Winter Punch and is enjoyed both hot and cold.

The non-alcoholic winter punch from Belvoir Fruit Farms is an alcohol-free spiced punch from England, available individually in a 750-milliliter bottle or in a case of six bottles. There is no need for dilution or mixing: the punch goes straight from the bottle into the pot and from there into the mug.

Dark red, spicy, and without the sharpness of alcohol

In the pot, the punch smells of cinnamon and clove; in the mug, it tastes of dark berries with a crisp, almost tart acidity.

Blackcurrant sets the tone, elderberry provides depth, and orange adds freshness. Spicy, fruity, and festive, it smells like the promises of December, with the nutmeg being more of a subtle hint than a distinct flavor. Because the alcohol is absent, its sharpness is also missing, allowing the fruitiness to stand out more clearly than in mulled wine.

It handles heat, but not boiling

Heat the punch slowly in the pot, and do not let it reach a boil, otherwise the spices will lose their potency.

As soon as you see the first steam rising from the pot, it is ready. A slice of orange, a star anise, or a piece of ginger in the pot will shift the flavor profile without overpowering it. It works just as well cold from the fridge, where the acidity comes to the fore and the spices recede. There is no alcohol in this bottle, so it can also be served at the table as a punch for children.

A slice of orange belongs in every mug, as it carries the aroma upward as you drink. If you like, add a spoonful of honey, which cushions the acidity of the blackcurrant without making the punch too sweet. On a weekend table with cookies and nuts, a bottle perfectly fills the gap between afternoon and evening.

The word "punch" comes from Hindi

In Hindi, "punch" simply means five, named after the five original ingredients: arrack, sugar, lemon, tea, and spices.

Sailors from the British East India Company brought the drink to England in the 17th century, from where it found its way to European winter markets. In this bottle, the arrack has been replaced by grape juice, elderberry, blackcurrant, orange, and the spice blend—once again five ingredients, just without the alcohol.

Juice as the base, spices as the extract

The base is red grape juice, with elderberry, blackcurrant, and orange juice concentrate added to the recipe.

Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg are included as an extract rather than ground powder, which would leave sediment in the mug. Belvoir deliberately avoids artificial flavors, colorings, and sweeteners. With 9 percent red grape juice, the grape provides the base note beneath the berries. A 0.75-liter bottle is enough for four to five mugs; the case of six will carry you through a whole evening by the fire pit.

If unexpected guests arrive, you can top it up with red wine to turn it into mulled wine in just a few minutes. Its sparkling sister for winter is the Cranberry Lemonade; more warm options can be found under Mulled Wine and Punch, more non-alcoholic options under non-alcoholic drinks, and in the Belvoir Fruit Farms assortment.