The name comes from the Hindi language (panca = five) and indicates that the classic drink was made from five parts (tea, alcohol, sugar, fruit, water). English sailors of the East India Company probably brought the recipe from India to Europe in the 17th century. At that time, it was considered the favourite alcoholic drink of the conservative Tories in England. The English "punch" subsequently became known in Germany as "Punsch". Today, hot punch is made from wine (mainly red wine), tea, arrack or rum, lemon and/or orange juice, cloves and sugar. Eggs are added to eggnog. The drink should not be heated to boiling in order to preserve the aroma and alcohol. The ingredients and recipes for punch (usually served cold), grog, mulled wine and hunter's tea are quite similar. See a list of similarly prepared alcoholic drinks under mixed drinks and wine-based drinks.
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Andreas Essl
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