Pomegranate cider: a warm, spiced cup you can make entirely at home

This is a warm, spiced cup you can make entirely at home: mostly pomegranate juice with a little apple juice, warmed slowly with a cinnamon stick, a whole clove, and slices of fresh ginger, so you get the same cozy spice you would order out, made from ingredients you already trust.

Pomegranate juice is a source of polyphenols, plant compounds studied for their role in supporting healthy circulation, and ginger has long been used to settle the stomach. The whole spices infuse gently, then get strained out, so you keep the flavor without anything to chew. The sweetness is all from the juice, so this is a cup to enjoy in a smaller pour rather than an everyday-sized mug.

Make it a small ritual. Let the kitchen fill with the smell while it simmers, pour it into a cup you like, and sit with it. Reclaiming a favorite comfort, in a form your body welcomes, is its own kind of care.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole clove
• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced

Method

Combine the pomegranate juice, apple juice, cinnamon stick, clove, and sliced ginger in a small pot.

Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat and let it cook for about 10 minutes, so the spices have time to infuse the cider.

Strain out the cinnamon stick, clove, and ginger. Pour into mugs and serve hot.

A note on serving

This is rich and sweet from the juice, so smaller cups go a long way. A fresh slice of apple or an extra cinnamon stick in the mug makes a nice garnish for a gathering.

*Adapted from acleanplate.com*