Sbiten

File:Zbiten.jpg

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Description

An ancient recipe Russian Hot beverage. There are several variations and also spelled sbiten

A non-alchoholic version is made with blackberry jam or other flavours and water instead of the wine.

Ingredients

• 1 ginger
• 2 3 bay leaf
• 5 – 7 cloves
• 1 nutmeg
• cinnamon
• 1 tsp herbs to taste (spearmint, St. John's wort)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 cup fresh honey
• 2 pint red sweet wine

Directions

1. Cook herbs tea: 1 tsp herbs per cup of boiling water, or less, to suit your own taste.
2. Add the cloves, ginger, cinnamon, bay leaf, nutmeg, honey last.
3. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture almost boils and honey dissolves.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Add red sweet wine.
6. Stir well, percolate.
7. Serve hot.