Keep the holidays healthy this year with two delicious spiced beverages: mulled cider, made with apples and lemons, and sweet-potato-asian-pear juice, both infused with spices ground in the PURE Juicer.
There’s a chill in the air, the fire is crackling, and your favorite holiday movie is cued up. The only thing that’s missing? A cozy drink!
At PURE, nothing exudes winter holiday comfort like the smell of cinnamon, cloves and other mulled spices. Lucky for us, we have a stainless steel two-stage cold press juicer that can not only extract the most nutrient dense juice for us during these cold winter months, but can also easily grind spices to be make hot mulled cider and spiced juice.
What’s the difference between mulled apple cider and apple cider?
There are a few ways to distinguish apple cider from mulled cider. First, apple cider is made from fermented apples and spices, usually served cold and without the flavors of other fruits. “Mulled” means to heat, sweeten, and flavor. Mulled cider is typically an apple juice heated with spices and citrus fruits. Some versions of mulled cider include the addition of an alcohol like bourbon.
What are mulling spices?
Mulling spices are the spices used to make mulled beverages — spices with a bit of a kick to them.
Cinnamon, cardamon, star anise, and black peppercorn are all some of our favorite spices to grind in the PURE Juicer to be mulled in our cider or added to our sweet-potato-asian pear juice.
Can you really grind spices in a juicer?
You can really grind spices in a juicer! Our two-stage, hydraulic press juicer is so versatile that you can just as easily grind cinnamon and cloves as you can grind and press apples for a nutrient dense, fresh apple cider.
Learn how to clean your PURE Juicer
Cold-Pressed Hot Apple Cider Recipe with Ground Spices
This cold-pressed apple-lemon juice tastes amazing on its own (you might want to set aside a jar of it for when you’ve got a hankering for apple juice), but mulled cider really can’t be beat on a cold winter’s day.
Ingredients
- 8 apples
- 1 lemon
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- cloves
- black pepper
- cardamom pods
- nutmeg
- vanilla
Directions
- Place spices into the grinder. Place a hand over the top to prevent kick-back. Set ground spices aside.
- Chop apples and lemons into slices.
- Place a strainer over a bowl, under the grinder.
- Use #8 grid and grind apples onto the strainer.
- Place apple mash in the center of a press cloth.
- Lay lemon slices on top of the apple mash before folding the press cloth in a tic-tac-toe formation.
- Press apple and lemons.
- Pour excess apple juice from the bowl into the apple lemon juice.
- Pour apple lemon juice into a pot; let it simmer.
- Add ground mulled spices to apple lemon juice.
- Heat until the delicious smells float through your house.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a mug to catch the spice remnants and ladle cider slowly into mug.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!
Sweet Potato-Asian Pear-Spice Juice
Ingredients
- 2-4 sweet potatoes
- 1-2 asian pears
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- cloves
- black pepper
- cardamom
- nutmeg
- vanilla
Make Mine a Hard Cider
While we’re of the opinion both the mulled cider and spiced sweet-potato pear juice taste perfect on their own, if you’d like to serve your beverage spiked, we recommend adding a finger of bourbon to your glass
Health Benefits
apples: nutrient dense and high in soluble fiber, apples are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants like vitamin E and polyphenols, which are linked to lower risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
cardamom: cardamom may help lower blood pressure and help with digestive issues, thanks to its antioxidant and diuretic properties. It is also rich in compounds that fight inflammation, which helps protect the body from certain chronic diseases.
cinnamon: anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, cinnamon may support both gut health and heart health. Studies show it could also be beneficial to the aging brain, particularly in the case of inhibiting the kinds of proteins that cause Alzheimer’s.
pears: known for their high fiber content, which aids in gut health, pears are also anti-inflammatory, packed with vitamins C and K and copper. Red pears may protect heart health, while those in green pears may promote eye health.
sweet potatoes: a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, sweet potatoes are also rich in antioxidants, which protect your body from free radicals. Sweet potatoes get their bright orange color from beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, known to improve eye health.
vanilla beans: in addition to the calming aroma and pleasing taste of vanilla, there is some evidence that vanilla beans have powerful antioxidant properties, are anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and potentially anticancer.
Medical Disclaimer
PURE Juicer is a juicing company. We are not doctors or medical experts. All content and information on this blog and website is for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and does not establish any patient-client relationship by using this website.
Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for professional advice. You should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your area for your health questions and concerns before making any professional, legal, medical, financial, or tax-related decisions.
David A Sifre says:
It seems odd to talk about the fiber benefits of the fruits when you are taking the fiber out to make the juice.
PURE Juicer says:
We will be writing about soluble vs. insoluble fiber soon! I hope you come back to read it! Happy New Year.