Have you ever tried hot mulled cider? No? Well, you must try it, and which day would be better than the upcoming National Hot Mulled Cider Day? It is celebrated every year on September 30th, honoring the warm, spiced apple beverage. This day signals the beginning of autumn and is all about savoring the sweet aroma and comforting taste of hot mulled cider. From history to celebrations, here’s everything about this day!
Every year, on 30th September, the world celebrates National Hot Mulled Cider Day. Hot mulled cider is a simple drink, and there is no better way to welcome autumn.
This drink is made by heating apple cider and mixing it with flavors like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and sometimes orange peel. What you get is a sweet-smelling, comforting beverage that feels best during the onset of autumn as the weather gets cooler.
The origin of mulled cider can be seen in ancient Rome and Greece. It is then that people used to actually heat alcoholic beverages with spices so that the leftover wine would not be wasted.
This practice was carried out throughout Europe, which slowly started gaining cultural significance in England, with a custom. This custom was known as wassailing, which meant toasting someone’s health with a hot cider, spiced drink during celebrations in winter. The word wassail means good health.
The popularity of apple cider slowly spread to America, and in no time, it took a central role in colonial life. By the 17th century, the commercialization of apple cider was booming, and it soon became the most popular drink across the colonies. The citizens continued to enjoy mulled cider during the U.S. Prohibition.
Though the precise origins of National Hot Mulled Cider Day as a designated holiday are unclear, September 30 was chosen to celebrate the beverage just as autumn sets in, anticipating the colder months and the festive holiday season.
National Hot Mulled Cider Day celebrates the warm, spiced apple drink that marks the beginning of autumn. It’s a very warm and comforting tradition that tends to bring people together as the weather cools down.
It is the day that honors the long history of mulled cider, a drink enjoyed since ancient times for its cozy flavors of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and orange peel.
Beyond its delicious taste, mulled cider symbolizes the changing seasons, warmth, and community. Celebrating this day actually encourages sharing the drink with your loved ones to embrace the beauty of autumn’s cozy spirit and spread joy through a simple tradition.
Celebrate this day with all your loved ones, both family and friends. Send out invites and gather everyone to enjoy a batch of mulled cider alongside some classic snacks like apple pie, gingerbread, or cinnamon-sugar doughnuts.
If you don’t want to stick to the original recipe of this drink, why not experiment with the flavors? You can add brandy, bourbon, or rum to the drink, adding a strong flavor to the drink and making it more palatable and a complex boozy drink.
Prepare the drink by following the original recipe and then include fresh fruit like oranges, apples, and a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup for sweetness.
Complex variant: Add bay leaves or fresh ginger to add more complexity and some more strong flavors to your warm, spiced mulled cider.
Slow-cooked variant: Slow-cook all the spices and sugar for some hours, and let the flavors meld in and bring in a deeper and complex flavor for you.
Hybrid Mulled Wine: If you are a wine enthusiast, try using red wine instead of cider and enjoy a surprisingly lovely flavor.
Summing Up
National Hot Mulled Cider Day is a celebration of flavors, asking everyone to slow down for a bit and enjoy the transition of seasons! So make sure you slow down and celebrate this day.
