Feeling under the weather? Beat the January blues with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, a rum toddy or another of Andrew Catchpole's energizing winter drinks.
The annual Christmas excess rolls happily on until New Year's Eve when, with a final dazzling flourish of celebration, time is called on the festive season. Those with thicker waists, fuzzy heads and lighter wallets will batten down for the dark winter days ahead. After so much overindulgence, treat yourself to comforting, feel-good drinks packed with goodness. You can detox, if you like, but your drinks can be pleasurable as well as nutritious. However, I think abstinence only makes the nights grow longer, so you can surely allow yourself the occasional modest snifter of winter-warming spirits.
This is the time of year for vitamin-rich smoothies to help ward off winter's ills, soothing milky drinks to send us gently to sleep, zingy fruit drinks to perk up our taste buds and remind us of warmer times, comforting hot toddies to beat the sniffles and the occasional tipple of fortified wine or fine spirits as a welcome treat. So here are ideas for drinks to jolly along the days until spring finally arrives.
Wake up in the morning to a vitamin-fest to help fight off seasonal bugs. The shelves are packed with exciting cordials and juices, many of which are organic. Swap the faithful old OJ for prune juice or a splash of purple-hued James White Organic Beetroot Juice to get things going. Cordials such as Belvoir's Organic Blueberry are rich in Vitamin C, while its Organic Ginger Cordial is a snappy and warming way to ease digestion and help fight off colds. And if you are avoiding caffeine, there is a huge range of fruit and herbal teas to choose from.
Fruit juices are good, but smoothies really hit the mark, whether they're ready-made like the excellent Innocent range or freshly whizzed up at home (see the recipe for banana and raspberry smoothie, right). Blackcurrant and apple, mango and passion fruit – the combinations can be as wild as your imagination. And don't forget that the trusty Virgin Mary is equally good as a pick-me-up as the Bloody Mary. Just hold the vodka and go long on the pepper, celery salt and Worcestershire sauce.
Traditional British favourites, including Fentimans Ginger Beer and Dandelion & Burdock, provide an uplifting alternative to alcoholic drinks. They are also great for perking up anyone who is suffering from
a cold. Or you could make a soothing mug of good old-fashioned honey and lemon – it's great for a sore throat (see right).
Of course, others may prefer an alcohol-infused toddy or punch to beat a cold into submission, and there is nothing more warming than a hot rum, brandy or whisky-based drink to ease those fluey aches and pains. A simple favourite in my family is hot buttered rum (see right), but there many variations you can try. An equally good option if you are feeling under the weather, or simply need cheering up, is to treat yourself to a small glass of something strong and warming by the fire. Remember, a little of what you fancy is good for you. So pour yourself a fine malt, smooth cognac, fruity armagnac or warming port, throw another log on the fire, then settle back and enjoy.
Finally, what could be more blissful than curling up on the sofa in front of an old black-and-white film with a soul-warming hot chocolate? Or, more decadently yet, slipping off early to bed with a good book and mug of the same. Europeans may take their chocolate at breakfast time, but we British know better. Either buy a good-quality hot chocolate drink such as Green & Black's and use whole milk or go the extra mile and make your own at home using quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa-butter content (see right). It's a guaranteed way to beat those winter blues.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in January 2007.