When the weather turns, a warm drink in the evening becomes one of the small pleasures of the day. These recipes use ordinary kitchen ingredients and take only a few minutes.
Honey and lemon
Squeeze half a lemon into a mug, add a teaspoon of honey and top with hot water. Stir well and let it cool for a minute before drinking. Simple, bright and comforting.
Warm milk with cinnamon
Heat a cup of milk, or a plant-based milk you like, in a small pan. Add a pinch of cinnamon and a little honey or maple syrup. Whisk just before it boils so it turns light and foamy.
Ginger and orange
Slice a thumb of fresh ginger into a pan with a strip of orange peel and two cups of water. Simmer for ten minutes, strain into mugs and sweeten if you like.
Apple and spice
Warm cloudy apple juice with a cinnamon stick and two cloves. Keep it on a low heat for five minutes so the spices can open up. It makes the whole kitchen smell like autumn.
Simple hot chocolate
Melt a few squares of good dark chocolate into a cup of hot milk, stirring until smooth. Add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavor.
Keep a favourite mug for the evenings and the drink becomes a small ritual of its own.