Mulled wine, hot chocolate and festive cocktails with dried citrus

A slice of dried citrus transforms mulled wine, hot chocolate or a festive cocktail in seconds: it scents the drink, decorates the glass and keeps for months in a jar. No oranges to squeeze or zest to grate at the last minute: everything is ready when your guests arrive.

Here are our simple winter recipes, with and without alcohol, and a few tips for garnishing glasses.

Why dried citrus rather than fresh?

Once cut, fresh citrus spoils within a few days. A slice dried slowly at low temperature keeps for months and concentrates the aromas of the peel. In a hot drink, it rehydrates gently and releases its scent; perched on the rim of a glass, it stays beautiful all evening. Our citrus is dried in our workshop in the Drôme provençale, with no additives or preservatives.

Mulled wine with dried clementines

For 6 glasses:

• 75 cl fruity red wine
• 6 to 8 dried clementine slices
• 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 star anise, 4 cloves
• 50 to 80 g sugar or honey, to taste
• 1 pinch of orange powder (optional)

Pour the wine into a saucepan with the spices, sugar and clementine slices. Heat gently for 20 minutes without ever letting it boil, then take it off the heat and stir in the orange powder. Serve in mugs with a clementine slice floating on top.

Orange hot chocolate

Heat the milk with the chocolate as usual, then add half a teaspoon of orange powder per mug and stir well. Rest a dried orange slice on the rim of the mug: chocolate and orange is a pairing that children and adults both love.

Three festive cocktails

Winter gin and tonic

Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in 4 cl of gin, top up with tonic and add a dried clementine slice and a sprig of rosemary. To take it further, the Jardin Méditerranéen blend brings together dried citrus, lavender and herbes de Provence for a botanical gin and tonic.

Orange spritz

Swap the fresh orange slice for a dried one: it floats, colours the glass and does not go limp if the spritz sits for a while. One or two slices per glass are enough.

Champagne with lemon

Set a thin dried lemon slice on the rim of the coupe, or let it float on top. It adds a fresh note and a pretty golden glow in the candlelight.

Frosting the rim of the glass

Mix a tablespoon of sugar with half a teaspoon of orange powder or lemon powder. Run a citrus slice or a little water around the rim of the glass, then dip it in the mixture. The frosting holds all evening and flavours every sip.

Alcohol-free

Dried citrus works just as well in alcohol-free drinks. Infuse two clementine slices with a cinnamon stick in hot water for a winter tisane, or add them to black tea. For a mocktail, pour sparkling apple juice over ice, with a dried orange slice and a pinch of orange powder.

Frequently asked questions

Can you eat dried citrus slices?

Yes, our slices are dried fruit with no additives: you can eat them, nibble them or let them infuse. Just keep aside any that have been used to decorate the tree or the table.

How many slices per glass?

One slice per glass is enough for a cocktail or a hot chocolate. For mulled wine, allow one slice per person in the pan and one more for serving.

How should you store dried citrus?

In a closed jar, away from moisture and direct light. Stored like this, the slices keep their colour and scent for many months.

When should you order to receive it before Christmas?

Dried citrus and powders ship quickly. We recommend ordering by early December at the latest. Shipping is free from €45 in France and €65 in Europe.

The essentials

A few dried citrus slices and a pinch of orange powder are all you need for fragrant festive drinks, with or without alcohol. To use them as decoration too, read Dried oranges for Christmas: 8 natural decorating ideas and discover our Christmas selection.

Please drink responsibly.