KACHEN #21 (Winter 2019) English edition

XX CATEGORIE XX
DICKENS’ PUNCH
RECIPE
Since we have mentioned the
esteemed writer, we would like
to offer our readers – in time for
Christmas – Dickens’ very own
recipe. However, caution is advised
twofold. First, rum alone was
not enough for Dickens; second,
the preparation is somewhat
combustible.
› ¾ cups sugar
› 3 lemons
› 2 cups rum
› 1 ¼ cups cognac
› 5 cups black tea (or water,
if preferable)
› lemon and orange slices
› freshly ground nutmeg
A composer’s favourite drink
Partly responsible for the popularity of the drink was Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart who first encountered it on his travels to England in 1764. Up until
then, it had been unknown in Vienna. “Punch, pronounced ‘punsch’, is a drink
made of water, rum, sugar and boiled lime. Drunk warm or cold as desired…”
wrote Mozart’s father Leopold to a friend. This letter about the drink foreshadowed
the fact that it later became his son’s favourite brew. Mozart’s father
also only mentions four ingredients in his description. Astonishingly, and
surely unimaginable today, he writes that one might partake of the drink when
cold, something that was not unusual back then. These days, one might question
the wisdom of that particular enjoyment.
In a pot, add sugar and lemon peel,
stir and let steep for 30 minutes.
Add rum and cognac. Take a
spoonful of the mixture and ignite.
With the spoonful, set fire to the
mixture in the pot and let burn for
three minutes. Smoother flames
with the lid. Remove lemon peel,
add juice of three lemons and hot
water or tea. Garnish with lemon or
orange slices and nutmeg and serve
hot in a glass.
Valued by actor Heinz Rühmann
These days there are many different ways of making the classic brew. Mark
you, the legendary Feuerzangenbowle, from the film of the same name starring
Heinz Rühmann, is also a variant of the punch. Basically, whatever tastes good
is allowed in respect to the recipe – with or without alcohol. However, care is
always advocated when partaking in warm alcoholic beverages – they are quick
to have an effect and, if taken liberally, are guaranteed to create hangovers.
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KACHEN No.21 | WINTER 19