Ponche Navideño

Ponche Navideño

12 servings
Traditional Mexican Fruit Punch - Ponche Navideño, is a traditional hot drink during the Christmas Holidays, it is made using water, fresh and dried fruits like tamarind, prunes, hibiscus, sugar cane, cinnamon, and sweetened with Piloncillo. You can serve it with or without alcohol. 

Ingredients

  • 4 quarts of water

    1 gallon

  • 1 large piloncillo cone)

    (or 12 oz. of brown sugar

  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 lb Tejocotes*

    SEE NOTES

  • 1½ Lb. guavas

    about 12 guavas

  • 3/4 cup prunes

    chopped

  • 1½ cup apples

    chopped

  • 1 cup pear

    chopped

  • ½ cup raisins
  • 3 sugar cane sticks

    about 5-in. long, cut into four pieces each

  • 1 cup of Tamarind pods***)

    peeled (or 1 cup of Hibiscus Flowers

  • Rum to taste

Directions

  1. 1

    Place water in a large stockpot.

  2. 2

    Add the piloncillo (or brown sugar) and cinnamon to cook for about 15 minutes. If you are using fresh Tejocotes, add them with the piloncillo and cinnamon, since they take longer to soften. Ponche Navideno

  3. 3

    Add the chopped guavas, apples, and prunes along with the rest of the ingredients like the sugar cane sticks, tamarind pods or hibiscus flowers. If you are using the canned version of the tejocotes, then add them in this step.

  4. 4

    Simmer for about 1 hour. Serve hot in mugs, ladling in some of the fruit and adding rum to your liking.

Ponche Navideño

Ponche Navideño

70 min12 servings

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About this Recipe

Gather your loved ones this holiday season and warm up with a mug of traditional Mexican Ponche Navideño. This festive fruit punch, a beloved staple during Christmas, brings authentic flavors right into your home, perfect for creating cherished memories.

What sets this Ponche Navideño apart is its rich tapestry of both fresh and dried fruits, all brought together by the earthy sweetness of piloncillo and the warm embrace of cinnamon. It's a harmonious blend of ingredients that delivers deep, comforting flavors, making it much more than just a drink; it's a comforting celebration in a mug that captures the spirit of the holidays.

You'll discover a deeply aromatic, warming beverage, brimming with tender pieces of fruit. Each sip offers a complex medley of sweet and subtly tart notes from guavas, apples, pears, and the unique tang of tamarind or hibiscus, all balanced by prunes and raisins, and the distinctive sweetness of sugar cane. This is a wonderfully rich and textured drink, ideal for sipping slowly. While it's a comforting project for a chilly day, the total time from start to finish is approximately 70 minutes, creating a truly rewarding experience.

This versatile fruit punch can be enjoyed by everyone. You can easily adjust it to your preference by serving it with or without a splash of rum to taste. If tejocotes are difficult to find, increasing the quantity of other fresh fruits like apples or guavas from the recipe will still yield a delicious punch, though with a slightly different flavor profile. For a change in tang, you can opt for either tamarind pods or hibiscus flowers, as both offer a delightful tartness.

Ponche Navideño is the quintessential drink for Christmas Holidays and festive gatherings. Serve it warm in mugs, perhaps garnished with an extra cinnamon stick or a slice of fresh fruit, for a heartwarming touch that everyone will adore.

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