When it comes to Christmas love or hate it, the Christmas Pudding is a festive food star. There is something lovely about the aromatic blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to fill your senses with festive cheer. And to enhance your Christmas Pudding indulgence we have the perfect wine pairing for you. Read also to get our Christmas Pudding recipe.
Homemade Christmas Pudding Wine Pairing
Our Head Sommelier, Andrzej has chosen ten-year-old Taylor’s Port to pair perfectly with our homemade Christmas Pudding. Andrzej says, “I have chosen ten-year Taylor’s Port for its mellow and elegant notes. The port allows for the combining of delicate wood notes along with rich aromas of the mature fruit; flavours of cherries, raisins, orange zest balanced and a mix of Christmas spices compliments our Home-made Christmas Pudding.”
Port is Wine, And Wine is Port
Christmas Pudding & Port Pairing
An interesting fact about Port is, that it is actually a wine. Yes, wine. In the world of wines, Port is considered a macho wine. Essayist, Samuel Johnson, once famously said “Claret for boys, Port for men”.
There are many styles of Port, from the venerable vintage to the vibrant ruby.
The magazine ‘Decanter’ describes how wine becomes vintage Port. “Once a wine has been bottled it continues to evolve slowly over a period of at least 15-20 years before it is considered ready to drink. Rather like the seven ages of man, vintage Port enjoys a short, fragrant bloom of youth before it shuts down and goes through 10 to 20 years of early adolescence. Then it slowly emerges as an adult gaining in gravitas until it reaches its peak, often between 20 and 40 years of age.”
Quick Tip for Cooking Homemade Christmas Pudding
Say Cheers with 10-year-old Taylor’s Port and our Christmas Pud Recipe
Andrzej also points out that Port isn’t just for drinking. It is an excellent companion for creating a fantastic delicately textured Christmas Puddings. He says, “soaking the dried fruit overnight in the Port adds to the fruity flavours of the pudding and helps to ensure that the Christmas pudding stays light and moist.”
Christmas Pudding Recipe
Hodson Bay’s Homemade Christmas Pudding
For all who wish to make your own festive Christmas Pudding, here is an all in one recipe. Enjoy.
1lb Sultanas
1lb Raisins
50g Peel
57g Cherries
1 Lemons Zest & Juice
1 Oranges Zest & Juice
A Glass of Dark Rum or Port
1 Carrot grated
1lb Grated Apple
1 tsp Nutmeg
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp Mixed Spices
Marinate all the above ingredients overnight. (The longer you soak these ingredients the stronger the flavour the pudding will have)
The following day, in a large bowl mix in:
11/3 lb Bread Crumbs
150g Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
6 eggs
1lb Melted Butter
1lb Sugar
To ensure you cook your pudding perfectly and keep a nice texture and consistency place some water in a tray underneath your pudding and wrap tightly with plenty of cling film.
- Cooking: 150°C/300°F/ Gas Mark 2 for 6 hours.
To reheat: steam Christmas pudding for a further 3½ hours, turn out and flame with brandy.
Enjoy with a glass of Taylor’s 10-Year-Old Port.
Port Traditions
Taylor’s Port & Homemade Christmas Pudding in the Bay
Once a Vintage Port is decanted tradition dictates that the decanter should be placed on the table to the right of the host or hostess. It is passed to the left, travelling around the table from guest to guest in a clockwise direction until returning to the starting point. Generally, this tradition is observed when serving Vintage Port but is often followed by other Port styles too.
This tradition has many colourful explanations. One explanation arose from the need to keep one’s sword arm free in case of trouble. Some say it originated in the Royal Navy where the rule was ‘Port to port’, meaning that the decanter (most likely a ship’s decanter) should be passed to the left. In the Royal Navy the Loyal Toast is traditionally drunk in Port and, in contrast to the other branches of the British armed forces, the officers remain seated.
In today’s world, the reason for serving Port from the left means the decanter is moving in the same direction, meaning every guest has the opportunity to enjoy the wine and no-one is left out. The decanter travels clockwise because most people are right-handed.
Merry Christmas Everyone
We hope you enjoy our Homemade Christmas Pudding Recipe and Wine Pairing.
From our family to yours,
Merry Christmas and the very Best for the New Year