🍷 Hippocras: Medieval Spiced Wine of Celebration and Warmth

The Hippocras is a drink steeped in the aromas of history. Combining red wine with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove, sweetened with honey or sugar, it was a favorite throughout Medieval and Renaissance Europe. Served warm or cool, it was used to mark feasts, festivals, and the comforts of winter nights. Rich, aromatic, and evocative, Hippocras brings the past into the present, letting you taste the world of kings, merchants, and poets in a single glass.

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✨ What Makes the Cocktail Unique?

Unlike modern mulled wine, Hippocras is refined rather than rustic. It relies on measured balance instead of heavy simmering, infusing the wine gently with spices to preserve the character of the grapes while adding layers of sweetness and warmth. It symbolizes sophistication, hospitality, and abundance. The name itself is said to come from Hippocrates, because the spice mixture was strained through a “Hippocratic sleeve” (a cloth filter), showing how cooking and medicine intertwined in medieval life.

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📖 Recipe

Servings: 4
Time: 30 minutes (plus chilling time if desired)
Difficulty: Gentle and Aromatic

🍇 Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine (medium-bodied, like Merlot or Grenache)
• 3 tbsp honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2–3 cloves
• 1 small piece candied or fresh ginger
• A pinch of nutmeg
• A strip of orange peel (optional)

🥂 Preparation Steps

1. In a large saucepan or pot, gently warm the wine over low heat. Do not let it boil.
2. Stir in the honey or sugar until dissolved.
3. Add the cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and orange peel if using.
4. Remove from heat, cover, and allow the spices to steep for about 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Strain through fine muslin or a coffee filter into a clean jug or bottle.
6. Serve warm in winter or chilled in summer.

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🌿 Variations & Tips

• Medieval recipes sometimes added pepper, cardamom, or long pepper for a touch of heat.
• For a white version, use a floral wine like Riesling and lighten the spice mix with ginger, mace, and lemon zest.
• For a festive twist, mix in a splash of sweet sherry or orange liqueur just before serving.
• If storing, keep refrigerated and use within a few days to enjoy its freshest aroma.

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🕯 Perfect Setting

Hippocras is perfect for quiet winter evenings, medieval feast recreations, or intimate gatherings by the fire. Its warm sweetness and spice pair beautifully with roasted nuts, cheese, or honeyed desserts. Whether you serve it from a silver jug or a simple ceramic cup, every sip carries the flavor of tradition and comfort. Santé!

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📜 A Taste of History: The Noble Spiced Wine of Europe

Hippocras dates back to 13th-century Europe, where it was prized by nobility and apothecaries alike. Blending wine with spices was not only a luxury but also considered medicinal. In an age before preservatives, sugar and spice symbolized wealth and vitality.

This drink was frequently served at banquets to close lavish meals, often alongside marchpane or candied fruit. Recipes for Hippocras appeared in manuscripts such as Le Viandier and Le Ménagier de Paris, showing minor variations across regions but always emphasizing elegance and balance. It traveled across trade routes that connected Europe with the spice markets of the East, embodying a blend of cultures and tastes.

As wine culture evolved, Hippocras became a symbol of festivity and refinement, reserved for holidays and high occasions. Today, reviving this ancient spiced wine is like opening a fragrant window into the medieval world. Each cup celebrates not only flavor but also history itself—a sip of warmth from centuries past.

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Photo by George Dolgikh.

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