With summertime upon us, there is no better way to enjoy a nice sunny day than with a refreshing glass of sangria. This is the perfect alcoholic beverage that makes even the hottest days of summer more manageable. We recommend making your own sangria at home for your next family gathering!
Where sangria comes from
The Romans have made many valuable contributions to our society, including the beginnings of our beloved sangria. It was common to drink spiced wine daily because the alcohol killed germs. This tradition spread widely across Europe, specifically Spain. The Spanish farmers took up this custom and put fruit, such as apples, peaches, and other citruses into red wine. This became known as sangria. The name comes from the Spanish word sangre, blood, due to the dark red color of the wine. But that’s where the similarities end.
What types of fruit are typical to add?
Sliced fruit is the most important ingredient to add, besides the red wine of course! The different types of fruit can make or break the flavors of this drink. A good sangria includes fruits of the season. A variety of fresh fruits are very important in the Mediterranean diet as well. So, for the summer you can add strawberries, peaches, kiwis, raspberries, and blueberries. We highly recommend using fresh and local fruits instead of canned because the taste is a little altered. Plus, this drink revolves around the different flavors of the fruit, so they must be fresh and full of flavor.
Red sangria recipe
To make a traditional sangria follow this recipe that serves 4:
- 1 bottle of red wine (of your choice but don’t splurge too much or use boxed wine)
- 50ml of Gin
- 50ml of Brandy
- 50ml of Cointreau
- 50ml of Liquor 43
- 75ml of orange Fanta (or other carbonated beverage of preference)
- 2 oranges
- 2 apples
- 2 peaches
- 1 lemon
White sangria
For those of you who don’t prefer red wine, don’t worry we have a delicious white sangria option! The fruits vary a little, but the main staples are added like apples, strawberries, oranges, and peaches along with mangos and limes. The process is the same as the traditional sangria, but you need to add different liquors like Grand Marnier (1/4 cup) and white wine as well as the carbonated beverage.
Recommendations
We have some tips that will help you achieve the perfect sangria to accompany your recently prepared paella. Regarding the fruit, it is best to avoid fruits with lots of water such as pears and watermelon. But as always, the final decision is based on your preferences. After all, there are many recipes for different occasions. After selecting the fruit, it is necessary to slice or dice them up. This way the sangria has added texture and a little treat at the end of your drink! Especially if you let the fruit soak in the mixture for 2 hours before serving. That way the fruit can absorb the liquor. Then when you bite into them, they are bursting with flavor!
With these delicious recipes and tips, you can create more memories with friends and family. We know that we have created many friendships around a pitcher of sangria late into the summer nights. We also enjoy gathering with family to share a laugh while drinking sangria and eating tapas, almonds, or a cheese plater at an outside bar. Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with making sangria for any occasion.
¡Salud!
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