Nordic Glogg with hibiscus (non alcoholic glogg recipe)
Steaming hot glogg with warming spices. Woolen socks on and a Glogg mug warming the hands – welcome Christmas time! Here in the North, the Scandinavian hot drink Glogg is the best way to cozy up during the cold months. With the traditional Christmas spices, this non-alcoholic glögg recipe gets you in the holiday mood and it is a perfect drink for Christmas parties!
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Tips for making a non-alcoholic version of Nordic glögg
- If you have a slow cooker you can use it instead of the pot and stove!
- If you prefer more wine-like flavors and obtain a non-alcoholic mulled wine and a tannin feel, let the hibiscus petals infuse longer. To get extra depth of flavor and that earthy taste you can extend the infusion time up to 60 minutes.
- On the contrary, if you prefer more subtle flavors of hibiscus you can fill your tee strainer or a straining cloth with the hibiscus before dunking in. (Just remember that hibiscus and blackcurrant will give your straining cloth a happy Christmas red color!) Pulling the tea strainer out after 5-10 minutes of the infusion you get a lighter flavor of hibiscus, but you can leave the spices in longer – depending on your preference.
- Make sure you choose a good unsweetened 100% blackcurrant juice or the one you have made yourself.
- In the recipe, I have used brown sugar with molasses (fariinisokeri/farinsocker, a dark, moist, brown sugar product that has been added some molasses). If you don’t have it, you can substitute it with dark syrup or brown sugar but increase the amount slightly.
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Insider: A peak into Nordic living
Glogg is a Scandinavian, or better to say Nordic hot drink that we most commonly associate with Christmas time. The high season for Glogg in Nordic countries is definitely in the winter season. It is a hot drink with warm seasoning, traditionally made from blackcurrant juice with Christmas spices and some alcohol like red wine or port wine that is added after infusing the spices into the juice.
The name of the glogg drink varies depending on the country: Danish and Norwegian gløgg, Swedish glögg, and Finnish glögi are all quite similar. Glogg has similarities with the German version of mulled wine called Glühwein.
For a Nordic the idea of cold months without a glass or two (or twenty-five!) of glögi is unbearable. The warming spices and the cozy feeling are just something heartwarmingly amazing. The darkness is nothing if you have hands around the warming glogg mug.
FAQ
Does glogg have alcohol in it?
Most commonly glogg contains some dry, unsweet red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, or Merlot. As well port wine is used and then the Gloog might have quite a much higher alcohol content. You can make it as well with stronger alcohols such as rum or sometimes even vodka. If you are making a white glögg with apple the best is to pair it with some Calvados or white wine.
What flavors are in Christmas glogg?
Glogg is seasoned with some Christmas spices. Commonly you can find in Glogg some cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. Often there is added some orange peel as well. Black currant juice is the prevailing choice with juices but you can also find some apple juice, grape juice, and hibiscus infusion in the Glogg.
What do you eat with hot glogg?
Gingerbread is the first option but pinwheel-shaped tarts with plum jam are good with glogg too. You can add in your glogg some almonds and raisins as well. Some do eat them, and some just like the flavor that they add to their drink.
Is glogg always served hot?
Mainly glogg is served hot – steaming hot I would say. But there are times that I have enjoyed it with some sparkling water like a Christmas lemonade! Just dilute the strong glogg you have with some frizzy sparkling water and serve it from the flute glass – no one is stopping you!
What are the benefits of a hibiscus drink?
Hibiscus is full of antioxidants and it may help lower blood pressure. It may boost liver health or even fight against cancer! (Read more here). This glogg recipe is a non-alcoholic version, so it is definitely better for health than the alcoholic options.
Tools you might need
- Large pot, preferably stainless steel
- Ladel
- Sieve
- Cups for serving or bottle for storing
Ingredients you need
- Hibiscus petals
- Unsweetened blackcurrant juice, can be substituted with red grape juice, but the result will be sweeter, or a pomegranate juice.
- Brown sugar with molasses (fariinihokeri/farinsocker), can be substituted with brown sugar or dark syrup.
- Cinnamon sticks, can be substituted with 1 tbsp of cinnamon powder
- Whole cloves
- Fresh ginger root
How to make non-alcoholic glögg
Step one: Measuring and preparing
Pour water and blackcurrant juice into a pot and turn the heat on to medium-high. Measure hibiscus petals, cinnamon, cloves and brown sugar with molasses in.
Cut the thin slices of the ginger root, to maximize the flavors – no need to peel the root. Add them to the pot.
Step two: Cooking
Let the Glogg simmer on low heat so that the sugar dissolves completely and turn the heat off.
Step three: Steeping
Leave the pot on the stove, close with the lid, and let it infuse for about 15 to 30 minutes. If you want stronger flavors leave up to 60 minutes, depending on your preference.
Step four: Straining
Strain off the seasonings and heat up again to serve or bottle to store.
How to serve the Nordic non-alcoholic glogg
Pour into the glasses add some raisins or almonds to the glogg and enjoy it with baked gingerbreads. Dunking the gingerbreads in the glogg is one of the pleasures of Christmas time!
Try out the Finnish almond cakes with the Glogg as well to get the amazing wintery atmosphere.
Storage
You can store the glogg in the fridge about for a week. If you can seal the bottle very airtight it might last even a few months. As soon as it has completely cooled you can also freeze the glogg in a freeze-resistant bottle for up to the next glogg season. Then when you need to, just take it out the day before to the fridge to be enjoyed with friends, you are officially ready for the holiday season!
How to tweak this recipe
- Change the juice with alternatives like red grape juice, black cherry juice, pomegranate juice, or other unsweetened juices.
- Add some star anise, cardamom seeds, or vanilla pods.
- To get more punchier flavor, add some black peppercorns.
- Decorate with fresh cranberries or fresh orange slices.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to your liking: add more if you are a friend of sweet flavors or decrease if you prefer more of the tart and tannin flavors.
Little Helper
Making glogg is so easy that my two-year-old can handle it – I swear! Depending on the age, let your child measure all the things before you put the whole pot on the stove. If your child is into counting – the clovers are good practice to be counted one by one for this recipe!
One of the most amazing and interesting things that we have for a toddler in the kitchen is the scale. Let the child use the scale with your assistance. In the recipe, I have marked down the grams as well so measuring each ingredient is a perfect option for a tiny scale lover like mine.
While the glogg is simmering, let your child continue to weigh potatoes, carrots, or anything they find in the kitchen.
Nordic Glogg with hibiscus (non-alcoholic)
Steaming hot glogg with warming spices. Woolen socks on and a Glogg mug warming the hands - welcome Christmas time! Here in the North, the Scandinavian hot drink Glogg is the best way to cozy up during the cold months. With the traditional Christmas spices, this non-alcoholic glögg recipe gets you in the holiday mood and it is a perfect drink for Christmas parties!
Ingredients
- 1 dl hibiscus petals (10g)
- 4 dl water (390g)
- 2 dl unsweetened blackcurrant juice
- 60g brown sugar with molasses (fariinisokeri/farinsocker) OR substitute with 80g of brow sugar or dark syrup
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks (5g)
- 10 cloves
- 8g ginger root sliced
Instructions
- Step one: Measuring and preparing
Pour water and blackcurrant juice into a pot and turn the heat on to medium-high. Measure hibiscus petals, cinnamon, cloves, and brown sugar with molasses in.
Cut the thin slices of the ginger root, to maximize the flavors - no need to peel the root. Add them to the pot. - Step two: Cooking
Let the Glogg simmer on low heat so that the sugar dissolves completely and turn the heat off. - Step three: Steeping
Leave the pot on the stove, close with the lid, and let it infuse for about 15 to 30 minutes. If you want stronger flavors leave up to 60 minutes, depending on your preference. - Step four: Straining
Strain off the seasonings and heat up again to serve or bottle to store.
How to serve the Nordic non-alcoholic glogg
Pour into the glasses add some raisins or almonds to the glogg and enjoy it with baked gingerbreads. Dunking the gingerbreads in the glogg is one of the pleasures of Christmas time!
Try out the Finnish almond cakes with the Glogg as well to get the amazing wintery atmosphere.
Storage
You can store the glogg in the fridge about for a week. If you can seal the bottle very airtight it might last even a few months. As soon as it has completely cooled you can also freeze the glogg in a freeze-resistant bottle for up to the next glogg season. Then when you need to, just take it out the day before to the fridge to be enjoyed with friends, you are officially ready for the holiday season!
Notes
- To have more ideas on how to adjust the recipe to your liking check the "How to tweak this recipe" header on the post.
- If you want to know more about the substitutions check out the "Ingredients you need" header on the post.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 160Amount Per Serving: Calories: 462Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 64mgCarbohydrates: 119gFiber: 4gSugar: 96gProtein: 1g
These calculations are generated automatically by Nutritionix based on the ingredients shown in the recipe. The nutrition information is an estimation and may include errors. All nutritional information presented and written within this site (blueteatile.com) is intended for informational purposes only. The writer is not a certified nutritionist or registered dietitian and any nutritional information should be used as a general guideline only.
Have you tried the non alcoholic glogg yet ?
Have you tried yet the Nordic Glogg? Do you prefer spicier and punchier or more subtle Christmas flavors? Let me know in the comments your favorite combinations and how you like to enjoy them!
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This looks amazing. I am trying to stop drinking and this looks like a good alternative. Also Hibiscus is good for hormonal balance, so even better. thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome Monika. Tag me with @blueteatile to let me know how your glogg turned out!