The icon. The legend. The moment.
For the first time ever I've created a dehydrated, steepable version of everyone's favorite Yule drink, Wassail! (Also known as the most delicious mulled spiced cider you've ever had)
Wassail is a traditional spiced apple cider made with cranberries, oranges and whole spices associated with the new year and twelfth night. You may have even heard the old carol "Here we come a wassailing" instead of the more modern "Here we come a caroling" played before! The tradition of "wassailing" is to drink wassail (sometimes alcoholic, but not this one) with friends as you walk and sing through the apple orchards, warding off evil spirits, thanking the trees for the apple harvest that year and to send them good health and bounty next year! (I wassailed by Ski Hi, don't worry)
The name wassail is taken from the old Norse salutation "ves heill", which means "be in good health" or "be fortunate" which I wish for you and yours in the new year as well as all of the local apple trees that provided us with such tasty apples this year.
Simply steep a tablespoon or two in hot water like a tea and enjoy!
VES HEILL!
Wassail
Apples: Heirloom Golden Russet & Honey Crisp from Ski Hi Apple Orchard in Baraboo, WI
Cranberries: Fresh from Cranberry Fest in Warrens, WI
Pears: Picked fresh from an heirloom Ringling pear tree in the yard
Oranges: Brought back from Florida
Cardamom Pods: Brought back from India
Whole Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove, All Spice, Nutmeg, Star Anise, Pure Cane Sugar.
I also got a fancy new dehydrator for Christmas and am now able to dehydrate purées so this batch of wassail features whole wassail chips! I made these from all of the excess fruit and spices that I strained out of my 12th night batch of wassail, blended it all together, and dehydrated them into sheets that I broke apart into chips!