5 from 12 votes
Mexican Christmas Punch (Ponche Navideño)
Mexican Christmas Punch, or Ponche Navideño, is a warm fruit drink simmered with ingredients like sugar cane, tamarind, hibiscus flowers, oranges, apples, guavas, and tejocotes. The combination of dried and fresh fruits with cinnamon and sugar produces a spiced, fruity beverage traditionally served at festive gatherings. The punch can be enjoyed as is or with optional tequila for added warmth and flavor during holiday celebrations.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 40 mins
Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
16
servings (1 cup each)
Calories:
216 kcal
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 20 cups (1 1/4 gallons) water
- 2 cinnamon stick
- 5 ounces sugar cane peeled and cut into matchsticks (see note 1)
- 5 ounces tamarind peeled (see note 2)
- 5 dried hibiscus flowers (flor de jamaica, see note 3)
- 1 orange peeled and cut into quarters
- 2 pounds apple unpeeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 pound guava guayabas, see note 4, fruit
- 10 tejocotes sliced (Hawthorne apples, see note 5)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Fresh fruit for garnish
- tequila to taste, optional (see note 6)
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, bring water, cinnamon, sugar cane, tamarind, and hibiscus flowers to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the water turns dark brown, about 10 minutes (depending on your cinnamon sticks, the Ponche may be a pinkish color).
- Add oranges, apples, guavas, and tejocotes and continue simmering 1 1/2 hours longer. Strain if desired (traditionally the drink is not strained) and add sugar to taste (I like 1 cup.) Garnish with fresh fruit and serve.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Use fresh sugar cane if possible, peeling and cutting into matchsticks for authentic taste and texture.
- Choose sour tamarind pods, commonly found in Mexican markets, for the correct tartness.
- Dried hibiscus flowers are key to the punch’s color and flavor; available at Latin markets or online.
- Ripen guavas before use by storing in a paper bag until fragrant and slightly soft.
- Tejocotes (Hawthorne apples) are essential for authentic flavor but can be found canned or jarred if fresh is unavailable.
- Optional tequila can be added when serving for a festive adult variation.
- The punch improves if made a day ahead and reheated gently before serving; store leftovers refrigerated up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cup
Calories
216kcal
(11%)
Carbohydrates
56g
(19%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Sodium
20mg
(1%)
Potassium
373mg
(8%)
Fiber
7g
(28%)
Sugar
46g
(92%)
Vitamin A
292IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
77mg
(86%)
Calcium
39mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16 servings (1 cup each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 216
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 216kcal | 11% |
| Carbohydrates | 56g | 19% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Sodium | 20mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 373mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 46g | 92% |
| Vitamin A | 292IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 77mg | 86% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.