Viva Brighton Issue #82 December 2019

RECIPE
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Gran Stead’s ginger and
spiced mulled wine
Chris Knox lets us into the secret of a tasty Christmas tipple
This whole business started back in 1994,
when my father Len couldn’t get hold of his
favourite non-alcoholic ginger wine, which
he used to buy in a shop in Shoreham. He
loved the taste, and sorely missed it.
He learnt that the lady who used to make it
had given up due to family commitments.
He contacted her, and found out that the
Mellow Ginger she’d been making was an
old family recipe handed down from her
grandmother, Christina Stead, who lived in
the nineteenth century, in Middleton-in-
Teesdale, in County Durham.
Len and my mother Dot acquired the recipe
for the Mellow Ginger, and started making
what they called Gran Stead’s Ginger, at
home, and selling it at craft fairs, farmers’
markets, and beyond.
Today it’s my wife Rosemary and I who run
the business, from a local farm in Mile Oak.
Our products are pasteurised and natural,
without artificial additives or preservatives.
As well as the original Mellow Ginger wine
we now produce a ‘Fiery’ version which has
reduced sugar and more ginger, as well as
a Spiced Ginger Punch. To complement
the range we have added Lemonade with
Ginger, Blackcurrant with Ginger, and
a Still Lemonade. We sell it at selected
stockists all over the south of England, and
also online, along with some export.
Many of our customers are ginger devotees
who value our ginger drinks as a deeply
delicious way to enjoy the health benefits
they associate with this ancient spice. Some
report that ginger eases sore throats, has
a soothing effect on the digestion, lessens
joint pain and may even help protect against
the common cold!
All our drinks are non-alcoholic, but can
be used in conjunction with alcohol if you
fancy a gingery tipple. A classic is a whisky
mac, which is simply a tot of whisky mixed
with ginger wine, mellow or fiery to taste.
Gran Stead’s is also a good mix with rum
and orange juice, and brandy and apple
juice.
But at Christmas time, especially if you
have some guests over, we’d recommend you
trying some Gran Stead’s ginger and spiced
mulled wine, which will certainly warm you
up from the inside out.
Method: In a large saucepan add the
following ingredients: one bottle of red wine
(nothing fancy, mulling wine will do); half a
bottle of Gran Stead’s Ginger Wine (mellow
or fiery, to taste); 1 litre of cranberry juice;
8oz brown sugar; the grated peel of a lime;
1 orange, cut into thin slices, 4-5 cloves; 2
sticks of cinnamon.
Gently bring to the boil, and simmer for
about ten minutes, allowing the spices to
infuse. Serve warm… with or without a
mince pie. Cheers!
As told to Alex Leith
gransteadsginger.co.uk
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