Ponche Navideño
Ingredients
- 10 cups water
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
- 2 tart apples
- 1 pear
- 0.5 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup sorrel
- 1 lemon
- 10 ounces light rum
- 12 slices lemon
Method
In a large stockpot, add the water, piloncillo (or brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, cloves and tamarind paste, and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer, and stir to completely dissolve the tamarind paste. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add the apples, pear, raisins and hibiscus flowers, and simmer for 15 minutes, until the fruit is soft and raisins are rehydrated. Squeeze the remaining liquid out of the cheesecloth packet and discard. Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves and discard. Stir in the lemon juice and rum. Divide the punch between 12 punch glasses, thinly slice 2 lemons and garnish each glass with a slice.