Ponche Navideño
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
Place water in a large stockpot.
- 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
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
Simmer for about 1 hour. Serve hot in mugs, ladling in some of the fruit and adding rum to your liking.