Ponche Navideño

Ponche Navideño is a traditional, festive Mexican punch that balances comforting winter spices with jammy, tart fruits. It is prepared by simmering unrefined piloncillo sugar and cinnamon sticks with a rich assortment of winter fruits, including sugarcane, apples, guavas, tejocotes, hibiscus flowers, and tamarind. Once the aromatic blend is completely cooled, a full bottle of smoky The Lost Explorer Espadín Mezcal is stirred in. This allows the mezcal’s rich earthiness to integrate seamlessly into the spiced, fruity broth, creating a beautiful large-batch holiday punch served in cozy mugs.

Ingredients:

• Half a block of piloncillo

• 3 cinnamon sticks

• 3 prunes

• 1 tamarind pod

• 3 hibiscus flowers

• 1 slice of honey pineapple

• 7 guavas

• 7 apples

• 7 tejocotes

• 10 sugarcane sticks

• 5 ¼ quarts / 5L water

• 750ml The Lost Explorer Espadín

Instructions:

• Bring water to a boil with the cinnamon and piloncillo, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. During this time, cut the fruit into thick julienne strips. Then, add the sugarcane, apples, and tejocote, and lastly, the guava and pineapple. After turning off the heat, add the tamarind, hibiscus flowers, and prunes. Taste and adjust the sweetness if necessary, adding sugar to taste. Let it cool, then add the mezcal espadín. Mezcal should be added when cold.

Attribution:
Recipe: Lost Explorer
Photo & Origin: Lost Explorer