Get ready to brew a concoction of dragon’s breath, spiderwebs, and plenty of potions. Just kidding! Now the witches’ brew could be a spooky cocktail with a bright color or a hot and cozy beverage.
But, historically speaking, those ladies in big pointy hats might have been brewing ale.
The story behind the witches’ brew
Beer is thought to have been invented by the Sumerians around 8,000 BC. Ancient tablets have been unearthed showing the original brewers were women. The Sumerians even had a goddess of beer, Ninkasi.
As cooks, healers, and gathers for their communities, women had extensive knowledge of plants that were food and had healing properties. So it makes sense they were the ones to discover fermentation.
Known in medieval Europe as โalewives,โ they did so as part of their routine of domestic duties, and they would wear a pointed black hat when they went to the market to sell their brew. You would also find a bubbling cauldron full of wort in their front yard. And a broom placed above their door symbolized they were open for business.
Last but not least, since beer makers need grains and herbs, they kept many cats to keep the mice from eating their grains.
Very witchy, don’t you think?
Whatโs a witches’ brew?
The witches’ brew is a Halloween cocktail with no standardized definition. Itโs often bright green, blue, or purple and can be served as a punch or shaken as a cocktail.
And while the colorful witch brew is perfect for Halloween drinks or spooky ideas for cocktails, I prefer the hot and spiced witches’ brew as an aromatic celebration of traditional Fall spices.
Hot Spiced witches’ brew
Boiled citrus tea drink with heaps of spices for a powerful health tonic: a witches’ brew.
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened tea
1/4 orange or lemon
2 whole cloves
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
2 black peppercorns, lightly cracked
1/4 inch of ginger root
Orange slices and star anise to garnish, if desired
Directions
Add the spices and fresh ginger to the pot and let simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
Pour the juice through a sieve into a thermal pitcher or punchbowl and taste for sweetness.
Serve warm with desired garnishes.
Here are some ideas for ingredients/tea combos:
โข Fruit Herbal Tea or any hibiscus teas go well with lemon juice, cinnamon, and turmeric.
โข Rooibos Tea or any vanilla, chai, or spice tea tastes great with cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and turmeric.
โข Black teas go well with ginger and black pepper.
โข Mint teas taste great with ginger, turmeric, or any citrus.
Drink it by knitting the Bat Mosaic Halloween Dishtowel, and you’re ready for Halloween!