| If you are visiting Spain, be sure to try the sangria | | | | Creating Your Own Sangria Recipe |
| recipe at your favourite restaurant or bar. This is a | | | | The typical recipe contains red wine, sliced fruit, a |
| traditional Spanish drink and you will find it served in | | | | sweetener such as honey or sugar and a small |
| most bars and restaurants. Recipes vary from place | | | | amount to triple sec or brandy. A basic recipe is one |
| to place, so be sure to try it with a few meals in | | | | bottle red wine; two cups clear soda, two cups |
| different locations. The ingredients used in the recipe | | | | orange juice, one half cup triple sec and sliced |
| can also vary according to the food that is being | | | | oranges. |
| served. | | | | The type of fruit can vary according to your taste |
| Sangria is served throughout the country in the | | | | or with the type of food that will be served. White |
| summer. In the northern areas, it is considered a | | | | wine can be substituted for red, if you are making |
| summer drink. In the eastern and southern areas of | | | | sangria blanco. Be sure to use a quality white wine |
| the country, the drink is served all year round. These | | | | for this variation. Whether or not carbonation is used |
| areas have a warmer climate and tend to have mild | | | | in the recipe is another common variation of the basic |
| temperatures even in the winter. The strength of | | | | recipe. |
| the drink varies from place to place. In general, it is | | | | With any recipe, it's important to allow time for the |
| stronger in bars and tends to be weaker at dance | | | | liquid to blend with the fruit. This enhances the |
| clubs or discos. | | | | flavour. To allow time for this, mix all the ingredients |
| Origins of the Sangria Recipe | | | | except ice and soda. Adjust ingredients in the recipe |
| Sangria originated in Spain. The word sangria is the | | | | to suit your tastes. Pour into a pitcher and leave in |
| Spanish word for bleeding. The drink gets its name | | | | the refrigerator for several hours or over night. |
| from the red color of the wine used in a traditional | | | | Add soda and ice just before serving. If desired, |
| sangria recipe. The drink is also made with white wine. | | | | more fresh fruit can be added just prior to serving |
| This is called sangria blanco. | | | | the beverage. For parties, pour sangria into a punch |
| Sangria is basically a mix of wine, juices, soda water | | | | bowl. Add ice, soda and more fresh fruit. Add these |
| and fruit. Any young red wine can be used in a | | | | ingredients just before serving. Serve the beverage |
| traditional recipe. Good, quality ingredients are | | | | just after the final ingredients are added. |
| important in this drink. Wine is the dominant | | | | Try a variety of good quality red and white wines |
| ingredient, so care is taken to use a good wine. | | | | when creating this beverage. Experiment with a |
| Sangria is often served in one liter pitchers. The | | | | variety of fruits, clear sodas and fruit juices to come |
| pitcher used should have a strainer on the lid. This | | | | up with a few different recipes for different |
| strains out ice and fruit, keeping them in the pitcher | | | | occasions. Make a note of each one and keep these |
| and out of the glass. You can order the beverage by | | | | notes for future reference. Try a different recipe at |
| the glass, but it is usually served in pitchers. At | | | | each party or to go with different foods you may |
| parties, it is usually served in a punch bowl. | | | | be serving. |