Sangria cocktail (sangre - from the Spanish "blood") - a traditional summer soft drink. The tradition of preparing a sangria drink was formed about 4 centuries ago in the southern regions of Spain, rich in various fruits. Spanish sangria is a drink from red wine, diluted with pure, preferably, spring water, with the addition of fruit slices, sometimes - sugar, some spices (vanilla, cinnamon) and ice. Such a drink is good to quench your thirst during the exhausting summer heat. Being an easy drink, sangria does not cause heavy intoxication.
Legends of sangria
According to one of the legends, the custom of preparing this drink arose and spread first among farmers in the province of Rioja at the end of the 17th century. There is another legend. According to her story, the inventor of sangria was a captured and liberated Italian soldier, fond of studying and breeding citrus. They say that it was he who first thought of combining citrus with wine - he wanted to make orange wine. Find a harmonious combination was not immediately, but in the end, the shocked Spaniards declared sangria "the blood of the devil", suspecting the unfortunate Italian in connection with the evil forces. He was captured, tortured and burned at the stake, and the drink was banned by the Inquisition. The ban was lifted only a few years later (thank God, not centuries).
How to prepare a drink "Sangria" at home?
It is not difficult. So, the traditional "Sangria". The recipe of the drink is in the classical version.
Ingredients:
- 0,7-1,0 liter of inexpensive (ordinary, and preferably fresh home) red wine;
- 0,7-0,5 liters of clean water;
- 2 tablespoons of sugar or fructose;
- fruit (1 orange, 2 tangerines, 0.5 lemons, 0.5 limes, 1 apple);
- ice.
Preparation:
Mix in the pitcher wine and water, add sugar, stir until dissolved. Fruits cleaned, cut into slices (citrus - better across) and also put in a jug. We put the clock on 2-4 in the refrigerator. After that, pour on the glasses, add an ice cube and serve.
White sangria
It should be noted that this option can not be considered classic - the taste is really similar to traditional sangria, but only the version with red wine can be considered "real" - it's not for nothing that the Spaniard was given the name "blood". Here is the recipe for white Sangria.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of table white wine;
- 100 ml of dry gin;
- 300 ml of lemon juice;
- 100 grams of sugar or fructose;
- cinnamon and vanilla to taste;
- 2-3 peaches;
- 1 apple;
- 2-3 slices of melon;
- 1-2 kiwifruit;
- a bunch of white table grapes.
Preparation:
We cut the washed fruits into slices (grapes - in half each), remove the stones and place in a jug, pour wine, add lemon juice, sugar, gin and spices. We insist in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours, after which we add ice, pour on glasses and serve.
How to cook sangria: options
Traditional, quite modern sangria recipe includes red table wine, sugar, cinnamon, ice and a variety of fruits (orange, mandarin, lemon, lime, apricot, peach, pear, apple, pineapple, and melon-melon or melon). Sometimes in the preparation of "Sangria" they use such spicy condiments as cardamom and ginger. In some cases, when you plan to use sangria not as a refreshing, but as a cheerful, taste of the drink strengthen and decorate with stronger alcohol: brandy, cognac, gin, rum, orho (Spanish moonshine), various liqueurs. White sangria is also popular - this drink is prepared on the basis of white wine. "Kava Sangria" - a drink that is prepared on the basis of sparkling wines.