Ponche Navideño (Christmas Punch)
User Reviews
5
Ponche Navideño (Christmas Punch)
Description
The recipe starts by boiling water with dried hibiscus flowers (jamaica), tamarind pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and piloncillo or sugar to create a sweet and aromatic spiced liquid base. After about 15 minutes, solids like hibiscus, tamarind, and cloves are removed, then a variety of fresh and dried fruits are added. The mixture is cooked further to soften the fruits, though cooking times can be extended or shortened depending on desired fruit texture.
The punch features a complex flavor profile from the combination of tart hibiscus, sweet tamarind, warming cinnamon and cloves, and a medley of fruits including tejocotes—a traditional fruit central to this recipe—guava, and mandarins. The sugarcane imparts natural sweetness and texture, while dried fruits lend richness.
This drink is served warm during Christmas celebrations and can be prepared in a slow cooker as a convenient alternative. Leftovers should be cooled and stored covered in the refrigerator and consumed within a week to maintain freshness.
Ingredients
The liquid base
- 1 gallon water 16 cups/4 liters
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
- 3 tamarindo pods peeled
- 1 cinnamon stick large or 3 small
- 8 ounce piloncillo Or more according to taste, or 1 cup sugar
- 4 cloves
The Fruits (amounts and fruits are according to taste)
- 10 tejocotes cut in halves, or 2 apples
- 2 pear chopped
- 1 to 2 apple chopped
- 4 to 5 guava cut into 8 pieces
- 3 to 4 sugarcane sticks peeled and sliced into sticks, about 5 inches long
- 5 mandarins peeled, or 2 oranges cut into slices
- 7 oz prunes
- 7 oz dried cranberries
- 7 oz raisins
Instructions
- Add the water to a large stockpot and set to high heat. Add the jamaica, tamarindo pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves and piloncillo/sugar. Cover and boil for about 15 minutes.
- Remove the hibiscus, tamarindo pods and cloves prior to adding the fruit. This way they're not served in the drink. Discard.
- Add all of the fruit, cover and bring to a soft boil. Once it starts to boil uncover and cook for 15 minutes. Cooking it for this long will leave a little crunch on the fruit. If you like soft fruit, cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Taste for sweetness and add more sugar according to taste.
- Remove from heat and cover pot. Let it steep for another 15 minutes. ½
- Note on guavas (guayabas) if you add any: If they're very soft, then you can place whole or cut in halves. If they're very firm, cut into 8 pieces. If you have guavas from a jar, then add at the last 5 minute as they're already cooked.
Notes
- You can prepare Ponche Navideño in a slow cooker by combining ingredients and cooking on high for 1½ to 2 hours until fruit is soft.
- To store leftovers, cool the punch then transfer to a jar covered with plastic wrap or lid. Consume within a week for best flavor.
- If using guavas from a jar, add them in the last 5 minutes of cooking as they are already soft; fresh guavas can be cut into pieces based on firmness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12mugs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 150 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1mug w/fruit | |
| Calories | 150kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 37g | 12% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Sodium | 2mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 149mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 31g | 62% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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