You know it is Christmas in Sweden when the glögg starts coming out. I went to my first glögg party of the season yesterday and now it feels like the holidays have started. Traditionally served around Christmas, glögg is mulled wine that is usually red and simmered with a few spices including cloves and cinnamon. (Groceries carry ready-to-use glögg spice packets.) The glögg is served warm in special cute mini cups with a few raisins and almonds to top off the concoction.
Amusingly, glögg was created in the days when wine would go bad and not wanting to waste alcohol, those thrifty Swedes would add the spices to mask the fact that the wine had gone bad, thus making it drinkable again. I love it that this drink is now the impetus for many a holiday party.
With your glögg, you are likely to be served pepparkakor or gingerbread cookies cut in heart shapes. Lussekatter – sweet buns made with saffron and raisins – are also served. While I love the tradition of glögg parties, I am not a huge fun of the drink. Inevitably each year, I happily get a drink at a holiday market or Christmas party, take a drink and then get Robert to drink most of it. Yesterday, I tried the orange version and thought it was pretty tasty, so maybe now I can actually enjoy the drink. Worse still, I have to admit that I also find lussekatter to be rather dull, but that is mostly because I don’t like saffron. Just don’t tell anyone here in Sweden as I do like going to those glögg parties….
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As a native Swede, it’s hilarious reading your blog! I’m finding myself laughing out loud when I recognize typical Swedish behavior and then realizing – we are pretty weird! But you gotta love that I suppose..
Anyway thank you, this made my day!
Thanks Josefin. You made my morning with your comments! As for weird, I would not say that. I really do enjoy the traditions here which are so different from my own.
Hi Sandra! I’m born of Swedish family but live in Australia, and the version of glögg that we make is made with vodka. It is seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom before it is set alight, and the flames used to melt sugar into it. When I can be bothered I’ll put a proper recipe up on my website. I’ve never tried the traditional wine-based glögg, but am very happy with the vodka one that our family does! I’m looking forward to coming and living in Sweden one day…in the meantime I’ll have to experience it vicariously through your posts. Christian 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion Christian. I will have to get that recipe. A little vodka certainly couldn’t hurt!
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