Hot Mulled Apple Cider

Mulled Apple or Pear Cider

3 quarts fresh apple cider or pear juice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
7 sticks of cinnamon
1 tablespoon finely crushed dried sweet basil

1. In a large enameled pot, gently simmer the juice with nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon sticks.
2. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Break them, placing a portion of stick in each tankard, glass, or chalice. Pour on the warmed cider.
3. Sprinkle sweet basil sparingly on top of each portion.

--Madeleine Pelner Cosman, Medieval Holidays and Festivals: A Calendar of Celebrations (1981), p.130

The first time I made this recipe for hot Mulled Apple Cider, it was sometime in autumn 1982--maybe October or November. I seem to remember making it once with apple cider from a grocery store and also with fresh brown golden cider from a Maryland roadside stand. I don't remember which I used first. Yet, fresh cider definetly makes superior mulled apple cider. (My mother had always loved cold fresh cider at the family's November Thanksgiving holiday feast.)

I was very much a history nut in my salad days of college in the early 1980's. Somewhere I read that it was traditional to heat the apple cider, not only over the hearth fire, but to "mull" it by thrusting an iron poker hot out of the fire into the drink.

I believe it was in 1985 that I discovered the Historic Cider Mill Farm, which eventually became my source for cider to make the recipe below for mulled cider. It's a wonderful drink for a chilly autumn night. I've enjoyed this hot mulled apple cider on October 31, while waiting for Trick or Treaters and served it up at many a Samhain circle and feast.

I will also add that this recipe is also extremely portable. Just toss all the spices into the gallon bottle of cold apple cider. Transport the bottle of cider with a crock pot, extension cord, and ladle. When arriving for the Samhain circle, a) plug in the crock pot, b) dump in the cider with with the spices, c) turn the crock pot on low and allow to simmer throughout the ritual. When it is time for "cakes and wine" the maiden can ladle out warm delicious cider into everyone's goblets.

I might as well share some information about the Cider Mill Farm in Elkridge, MD. The Historic Cider Mill Farm was located at 5012 Landing Road Elkridge, MD 21075. (Telephone: 410-788-9595) It was sort of in between Catonsville and Ellicott City, on a twisty, back road route. The drive there was like stepping out of suburbia briefly and into a wonderful little piece of rural history. The Historic Cider Mill Farm made the very finest apple pies and delicious fresh cider. They grew the apples in their own orchards.

The information below says it was open April through June and September through November, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week.

This is actually a later schedule, from the late 1990's. In the late 1980's, it would actually open for one weekend in March, the weekend nearest St. Patrick's Day.

Their little printed calendar ad had a theme for each weekend they were open. On the weekend nearest St. Patrick's day it was potato planting. My husband and I never went there to plant potatoes.

I remember studying the themes for the weekends and attending lots of them. In October, they had "Teddy Bear Days" and "Halloween" weekend.

They had scarecrow-making every weekend in October. Using both adult and/or children's clothes, folks could create and stuff scarecrows with hay--little scarecrows and big scarecrows. "Sometimes children like the little ones, because they are easier to carry and to talk to." In October they would sometimes sell a few excellent pumpkin pies along with the apple ones. They also sold apple butter, jams, jellies, goat's milk soap, as well as honey from local bee keepers.

A Johnny Appleseed Festival was held on the 3rd weekend in September. They had hayrides. I also remember history days called "Heritage Days." The owner would have wooden duck decoy carvers and other craftsmen doing demonstrations. There was a good-sized platform for playing marbles, and they had a tournament one weekend every year.

The Historic Cider Mill Farm was a great place to take nieces and nephews. We could show them apples growing on the tree, watch the cider making demonstrations, and enjoy the weekend theme activities. It was always nice to give them one of the free samples of freshly pressed cider and ask our young relatives if they wanted to take some home to Mom and Dad with some baked goods.

At one time, the Cider Mill Farm was open until mid-December. We always bought our cider for wassail there. One of the weekend themes in December was the burning of the Yule Log, which we attended. They sang carols and discussed the history of the Yule Log.

I'm not sure why they dropped the December weekends. Perhaps, it was just too cold.

When Cider Mill Farm started closing on December 1, we'd buy some gallons of cider in November for Thanksgiving, plus another one or two to save. We'd freeze the other gallon or two, saving the cider for the December holiday season. We invariably bought pumpkins there for jack-o-lanterns and jack-be-littles. Cider Mill Farm was a place to get pumpkins. Apparently in 1994, they "...sold 100 tons, mostly Howdens, which are face pumpkins and also good for pies."

Thomas W. Owens restored and operated the historic Cider Mill Farm in Howard County. He changed the name from Landing Road Cider Mill to Cider Mill Farm in the 1970's. The farm, alas, was closed and sold for a housing development in 2002. A wonderful place in Maryland vanished. Tom Owens passed away on May 8, 2009.

This information below came from an old website file, still operating in cyberspace, apparently unaware that the place no longer exists.

NaturalMaryland.com
Cider Mill Farm
5012 Landing Road Elkridge, MD 21075
(410) 788-9595
Website: http://WWW.farmmd.com
E-Mail: cider@farm.md.com

Open: April through June, September through December 1st, 10am to 6pm, 7 days a week.

For Sale: apples, cider, gourds, pumpkins, flowers, corn stalks, indian corn, jack-be-littles, apple butter, honey, jams, jellies, salsas, crafts, gifts and a HOME BAKERY.

We have been growing apples and making cider since 1916 (free samples, fresh or pasteurized).

We offer: pony rides petting farm, hayrides, scarecrow making, and picnics.

We also offer Farm Birthdays and Pony Parties. Guided educational group field trip by appointment. MILK A COW. Drop in visits for all anytime we are open.

Cider Mill Farm

1. Head toward Montrose Manor Ct on Frederick Rd (MD-144).
0.9 mi
2. Bear left onto Thistle Rd.
1.0 mi
3. Bear left onto River Rd.
0.3 mi
4. Continue on Ilchester Rd.
1.2 mi
5. Turn left onto Landing Rd.
0.4 mi
6. Your destination on Landing Rd is on the right. The trip takes 3.8 mi/ and 9 mins.

Technically, the journey took 9 minutes by car, but actually it was a left turn on Thistle Road that transported one's vehicle out of suburbia and into lovely forest country roads, finally arriving at this enchanted orchard and old fashioned cider place...

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