Glögg is the traditional drink that we have around Christmas over here.
When Martin and I started dating and later got married (back in 1990) we had a tradition of going to his family graves (my family’s are in Finland and Germany) for All Saint's Day which was this past weekend. We’d go after dark and marvel at all the pretty candles and lights on all the graves and place our own on the Larsson family plots. Because this time of year is usually cold and miserable, either with rain or snow, we’d make sure we were dressed warmly but also to bring something warm to drink in a Thermos. Glögg. This past weekend was always our Glögg premiere. And so it still is for me but nowadays I prefer it in the comfort of my favorite armchair.
I was asked if I wanted to try the new non alcoholic Blossa glögg and to my surprise when the package arrived they had also added this year’s special which is flavored with yuzu and ginger.
Since I had already bought a bottle of the yuzu one (there’s a new special flavor every year and I always get it early because it usually sells out quickly) it came in handy when I went over for dinner at Anne’s on Saturday. My original little gift for her was a set of these advent candles but the gift got amped up nicely with the glögg bottle. Mind you, I made sure to give her the one I bought so I’m technically not re-gifting, haha!
And so is it any good this year? It is! Delicious and citrusy! Not my all time favorite though, I la-la-loved the saffron one from a few years ago, but way better than last year’s Arabica coffee one which was kind of weird if you ask me.
As for the non-alcoholic one I haven’t tried it yet but it will come in really handy later come December. Thank you Blossa!
Good morning and Prost! ;-) {skål}
Posted by: Katharina | November 07, 2012 at 04:14 AM
Hey, isn't the bottle super stylish? And I loved your description of lit up graves over All Saints/All Souls. I would love to try some Glögg now xo
Posted by: Claire/Just a little less | November 07, 2012 at 04:24 AM
Can you compare glögg with glühwein? I am not that fond of glühwein.
The bottle looks very nice though!
Posted by: Marianne | November 07, 2012 at 04:24 AM
Glögg is sweeter than Glühwein and has slightly different spices I'd say.
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 04:29 AM
Bottoms Up!
Posted by: Hxx | November 07, 2012 at 05:07 AM
Var har du köpt de fina adventsljusen?
Posted by: Frida | November 07, 2012 at 05:08 AM
De är från Åhléns. Finns även med svarta siffror som jag köpte till mig själv. 79 riksdaler!
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 05:10 AM
I also had last year the Blossa Glögg, I did not hate it, but it felt more like a coffee with avec than glögg.
Can't wait to try this year's.
Posted by: Leena | November 07, 2012 at 05:17 AM
And such a happy camper I am! I've tried it and I liked it very much, it is not that glögg-ish but a very nice hot drink. Thank you sweetie!
Posted by: Anne | November 07, 2012 at 05:57 AM
You are most welcome!
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 06:00 AM
I am familiar only with one type of the non-alcoholic Glogg that you can get at IKEA. I like it. I buy a couple of bottles every year and add to mulled wine.
Posted by: Zosia | November 07, 2012 at 06:35 AM
Love gløgg, I have to go and buy some in Sweden :) The one in Norway is in a weird looking plastic bottle :)
Posted by: Maja | November 07, 2012 at 07:13 AM
I haven't been able to find Glögg here in the states, but I have made some of my own from Helene Henderson's The Swedish Table...it was lovely!
Posted by: Bridget | November 07, 2012 at 09:54 AM
I haven't seen any in the States, either, but I'll keep looking! Thanks, Bridget, for that link - I may give that a try.
And where would one find advent candles like that? I guess if I trolled Pinterest I'd find a way to do my own...
You brighten my week days, Benita! Thank you!
Posted by: Malena | November 07, 2012 at 01:04 PM
They have Gluhwein at Cost Plus World Market. Not the same, but close.
Posted by: Kim T. | November 07, 2012 at 01:16 PM
How lovely! I didn't realize that glogg is something to drink warm. The yuzu and ginger sounds interesting. Has Wille continued the tradition of going to the Larsson plots with Martin?
Posted by: Lisa Flaherty | November 07, 2012 at 01:53 PM
You can probably make similar candles by buying white candles and cutting out numbers from colored wax sheets. Our local craft store Panduro sells those types of sheets so maybe Michael's has some? You could print the numbers out on paper and use the cut out paper numbers as your template and then use a craft knife to cut through the wax.
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 01:53 PM
They didn't go this year and I don't remember if they did last year. It's not really something Wille's been into as he grew older. We're not that big on upholding tradition so if someone's not keen, that person skips :).
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 02:54 PM
What, pray tell, is yuzu?
Posted by: KariMc | November 07, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Apparently some type of Asian citrus fuit.
Posted by: Carlos | November 07, 2012 at 05:03 PM
We don't have this here, but the bottle is absolutely cute!
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 07, 2012 at 05:59 PM
If you have an Ikea nearby you might try there. They usually keep glögg in international stores.
Posted by: Anne | November 08, 2012 at 05:49 AM
My parents used to make Glogg on the stovetop to share with friends at their annual New Years Day and Rose Bowl football game party when I was growing up in Southern California. I was always too young to drink it (much) but now that you have reminded me of it, I think it may be part of my Christmas party fare.
Posted by: Judy | November 10, 2012 at 01:53 AM