In Russia, punch was considered the most "hussar" drink. His show was very effective. They filled a large container, threw pieces of fruit on top and poured a little strong alcohol on the surface, which they set fire to. The lights were dimmed in the hall and, with the joyful exclamations of those gathered, they brought in a flaming pale blue flame cup with a drink, which was then poured into special glasses, narrow and high, like girls' waists, from thick transparent glass through which a honey-golden spicy punch shone through.
The history of this drink begins in medieval India, where the word "paantsch", which meant "five", was called a hot mixture of five components, the recipe of which was lost over time. Punch with rum, strong tea, hot water, lemon juice and sugar, which is considered a classic, migrated to Europe from Jamaica, where it underwent some prescription changes that have survived to this day. Now this word refers to numerous alcoholic and nonalcoholic heated mixtures containing dry wine, combined with rum, cognac or brandy, with the addition of fruit juices, sugar, various spices. There are recipes that use eggs and milk. To revive the “hussar" parties and make a punch at home is easy, especially since there are many recipes for it. A chilled non-alcoholic punch is also prepared, the recipe of which consists of a mixture of juices, tea, with the addition of whole fruits and berries, as well as ice cubes.
In the process of preparation, the mixture of wine, sugar, spices is heated so that the sugar has completely melted and the mixture has acquired a uniform consistency. Do not overheat the drink, since at a temperature above 80 degrees the wine loses its taste. To preserve the strength of the drink, rum or cognac is poured into the heated wine after it is removed from the fire. How to make a punch? Here are some simple recipes.
Tea punch. Low alcohol recipe
In the teapot, strong tea is brewed from four tablespoons of black tea and two glasses of boiling water. Strained tea and a bottle of dry or semi-dry wine are poured into the pan. The mixture is heated. In a separate container for two to three minutes, a mixture of half a glass of water, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and lemon zest is boiled. Then the strained spicy mixture is added to the tea-wine. Ready punch is poured into tall glasses and served warm.
Barbados punch. Old drink recipe
According to one of the oldest recipes, punch is prepared like this. It is necessary to take lemon juice, sugar, rum and water in a proportion of 1x2x3x4 and a pinch of crushed nutmeg. Water, juice, sugar and nutmeg are mixed and heated on a stove, then rum is added to the hot mixture.
Finally, you can cook a cold punch. The recipe for it is this. Several lemons and oranges are cut into circles, stacked in a bowl and filled with lump sugar. After the sugar absorbs the juice, slices of lemon and orange are pulled out, the peel is cut from them and placed in a punch container. Pineapple and other fruits and berries can be added to oranges and lemons. One bottle of boiling water is poured to the fruit, sugar-soaked juice is put. After the boiling water has cooled, pour one bottle of vodka and two glasses of cognac into the container. The mixture must be allowed to brew well. Then it is poured into glasses, adding ice cubes to each. This cold punch can be filtered, bottled, corked and stored in the cellar.
To surprise guests and prepare a “fire” punch, you need to gently in the bowl with the drink, trying not to mix with the general contents, pour cognac or rum and set fire to it. This alcohol layer from the surface will quickly “disappear”, the flame will go out, and the drink can be poured into glasses.