Mulled Apple Juice
January's remedy
A Stoic philosopher famously observed that “you become what you give your attention to.”
So let’s get going on our epic 2026 wellness adventure, where I help you to nudge junkfood off your radar, and substitute it with plant-powered, fibre-forward, massively tasty dishes that don’t compromise your taste buds or satisfaction sonar.
I do the research, so you don’t have to.
All you need to do, is make these recipes every week and decide which ones work best for you. Then print them out to keep forever (from the handy PDF at the bottom of every post).
Recipe index here, for the very enthused. My back catalogue has loads of treasures. Care for your body, like it’s your best friend. Because it truly is.
Over to today’s recipe…
For a non-drinker on New Year’s Eve, mulled apple juice is about as welcome as a bubble bath to a Bach sonata.
Boring syrupy cordials are usually proffered to the designated driver this time of year, or an unimaginative sparkling water. Where’s the New Year glee in that? This recipe promises to keep toes toasty, and 2026 spirits glittering.
The same flavours used in mulled wine are recruited for today’s recipe, starring a jamboree of healthy Ayurvedic spices…
There’s cinnamon to warm your insides and serenade your system; clove to kick sore throats; star anise for jazz hands and sexy breath; ginger to soothe misbehaving tonsils; and citrus zest to bewitch every sip. Combined with freshly pressed Irish apples, expect a battalion of potassium to surge through your mainframe and service achy muscles, all the while seducing blood pressure.
If you’re looking to stock up on ice-cold drinks for your New Year’s rave (or Dry January) I recommend Irish kombucha (obvs). There are lots to choose from now - Synerchi or Katie’s Kombucha available at Supervalu, Holo or My Goodness Kombucha from specialist stores and trendy delis, and an own-brand from Aldi.
Other recipes from my archive to help rinse the last of the festive debauchery from your veins?
· Grapefruit & ginger slushie
· a mango lassi to serve as a bootcamp for your microbiota
· how to make really good stock that costs nothing
two more tipples to come in January (you can subscribe to receive them both)
See you in 2026 my friends. May it be filled with mischief and magic.
Love, light, and fibre farming,
Susan Jane
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// Mulled Apple Juice//
2 litres (locally-made) unsweetened apple juice
2 mugs rooibos, green tea or water
7 cloves
1 large cinnamon stick
1 star anise
Chunk of ginger, sliced not grated
A strip of unwaxed or organic orange zest
Step 1
Bring all the ingredients together to a brief simmer. Then turn down the heat to a very low glow to infuse the flavours and maintain warmth.
Step 2
Serve on cold evenings in January, or as guests arrive, using a soup ladle for maximum theatre. No need to remove the extra ingredients - they are large and obvious enough to avoid while sipping your 2026 elixir.
