Sbiten is a traditional slavic hot drink that is popular in the winter months. It is usually quite sweet and also has a spicy flavour. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘Russian Glüwhein’, however Sbiten doesn’t usually contain alcohol. This warm drink is not only delicious, but it contains healthy spices too. Ginger, mint, cinnamon and cloves all contain unique health benefits to help boost the immune system during cold months. Try this ancient recipe – yes it is ancient, it is first recorded in chronicles in the 1100’s, but we can guess that it was passed down from our ancient ancestors in their family lines before the recipe was recorded.
Ingredients for Sbiten:
- Honey – 3 tbsp
- Water – 500 ml
- Fresh ginger – 20 g
- Lemon – 1/2 pcs
- Mint, dried or fresh
- Ground cinnamon – a pinch
- Cloves – 3 buds
Preparation:
- Remove the zest from the lemon, grate it on a fine grater, and squeeze the juice from the lemon.
- Grate the ginger too.
- Bring water to a boil, add the ginger, mint, spices, lemon juice and zest, honey and mix.
- Remove from heat and let it sit for about 30 minutes.
- You can heat it up when ready to serve, it is best served warm.
- Sbiten can be stored in the fridge and reheated later – it can also be served cold in the summer.
For other immune boosting recipes, visit our blog here.
Disclaimer: This article may contain health or medical-related materials that were created for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The owners, authors, editors or other staff of Megre LLC are NOT qualified health professionals or researchers and are not responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect information on this website. The use of any information on this website is solely at your own risk.
