punsch

Punsch (or ''punssi'' in Finnish) is a type of liqueur popular in Sweden and Finland. It is most frequently called ''Swedish Punsch'', and while historical variations have also been called , , and , punsch should not be confused with the English term " punch". It is made by the mixing of spirits (arrack, brandy or rum) with arrak tea (lemon and spices), sugar, and water, and was first brought to Sweden from Java in 1733. The spirit arrack is the base ingredient in most punsches, also imported into Europe by the Dutch from their colony in Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Punsch usually has 25% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 30% sugar.

While still made in Sweden by combining ingredients, since the later part of the 19th century it is frequently purchased as a bottled liqueur under various brand names. It is drunk both warmed and chilled.

Etymology

Originally, Swedish/Finnish punsch was a variant of punch, which became a popular drink all over Europe in the 18th century, having been introduced in Britain from India in the late 17th century. Some believe the word ''punch/punsch'' came from a loanword from Persian ''panj'', meaning "five", as punch was originally made with five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices. Others believe the word originates from the English ''puncheon'', which was a volumetric description for certain sized barrels used to transport alcohol on ships. The English spelling of the word was in Sweden and Germany adapted to local spelling rules, thus becoming ''punsch''. In Sweden, regular punch is also served, but is instead known as ''bål'' (bowl). Punsch became such a tradition in Sweden that it influenced the language: there are some 80 words in the Swedish dictionary derived from ''punsch''.

History of punsch

The Swedish East India Company started to import arrack with the arrival of their ship ''Fredricus Rex Sueciae'' to Gothenburg in 1733. It quickly became popular, especially among the wealthy, who could afford the price of imported spirits and teas to make punsch. Later it spread through all levels of society, including students, the military, and fraternal orders, becoming a truly national drink.

An early recipe for ''punsch'' was written by Pehr Osbeck in the book he published with his fellow travellers Olof Torén and Carl Gustaf Ekeberg, ''A Voyage to China and the East Indies'' (1771), an English translation of the original Swedish publication of 1757:

A testament to the widespread popularity of punsch or ''rack'' (arrack) are the songs of Swedish eighteenth century poet and composer Carl Michael Bellman. It is often mentioned in his three works ''Bacchi Tempel'' (1783), '' Fredmans epistlar'' (1790) and '' Fredmans sånger'' (1791) about a group of fictional characters, drunkards, bohemians and prostitutes in contemporary Stockholm (see for example song no. 48 or epistle no. 41). Many drinking songs from that period are about the consumption of punsch. Swedish entertainer Povel Ramel sang about punsch in the song "Varför är där ingen is till punschen?"

The high point of punsch consumption was during the late nineteenth century, when the Swedes started frequenting restaurants and loved to end their dinner with coffee and half a bottle of punsch on the table, placed in an ice bucket. The drinking of punsch was also popular at home, and outdoor porches were sometimes referred to as ''punschverandas'', where the men drank punsch, told stories, and smoked cigars.

Use in food and drink

Until the 1840s, punsch was typically served warm and created just before consumption: a sugarloaf was placed upright in a large bowl, hot water was poured over it to make the sugar dissolve, and arrack, unflavoured spirits and German Rhine wine were added. Still warm, the drink was then served in cups. Punsch is also used as a flavoring agent or to increase the alcohol content for glögg, the warmed Scandinavian mulled wine frequently associated with Christmas. On Thursdays, punsch is traditionally served warm as an accompaniment to Swedish yellow pea and pork soup (''ärtsoppa'') and pancakes. It may also be served warm at winter festivals and at student dinners.

In 1845 the wine importing company J. Cederlunds Söner started selling premixed punsch in bottles. This was quickly followed by several other manufacturers, including in northern Germany, and the habit of also drinking punsch as a chilled liqueur began to take hold.

Apart from being drunk neat, punsch is mixed into cocktails. Among the more prevalent are the Doctor cocktail (with rum & lime), the Diki-Diki (with apple brandy & grapefruit juice), and the ''Guldkant'' (or "gold rim", made with equal parts punsch & cognac). Trader Vic's 1947 ''Bartender's Guide'' includes the ''Turret Cocktail'' and its version of the Corpse Reviver No.2 with Swedish punsch. Other alcoholic drinks include the Boomerang cocktail, ''Greta Garbo'', Malecon, and the Modernista.

Mixed also for wine cocktails, pre-prohibition era bartender Charles Mahoney mixed equal parts Rhine wine and punsch to make a ''Prefeldt Highball''. Punsch is also added to sparkling wine to make a ''punsch royale''.

Used as a flavoring syrup in desserts, it is a vital ingredient in the popular Swedish chocolate praline, known as ''punschpralin''. It is also used in the pastry called ''punschrulle'', and is associated with the Runeberg torte. Punsch ice cream is an available flavor in Sweden.

Common brands

*Carlshamns Flaggpunsch (originally Sweden, but , manufactured in Finland)
*Cederlunds Caloric (originally Sweden, but , manufactured in Finland)
*Facile Punsch (Sweden)
*Trosa Punsch (Sweden)
*Helmi Arrakkipunssi (Finland)
*Kronan Swedish Punsch (Sweden)
*Roslags Punsch (Sweden)
*Bellmanpunsch (Sweden)
*Grönstedts Blå (Sweden, reintroduced in 2020)

Defunct brands

*Bil-Punsch (''Automobile Punsch'')
*Cirkus-Punsch
*Elevator-Punsch
*Hushålls-Punsch (''Household Punsch'')
*Kavalleri-Punsch (''Cavalry Punsch'')
*Par Bricole-Punsch
*Platins
*Skridsko-Punsch (’’Ice skate punsch’’)
*Student-Punsch
*Sport-Punsch
*Telefon-Punsch
*Velociped-Punsch (’’Bicycle punsch’’)
*Victoria-Punsch
*Lunda-punsch

References

Further reading

*

*{{cite book
, last=Trolle
, first=Elsa af
, title=Cocktails: drinkar och cobbels, likördrycker, champagnedrycker, bålar och kallskålar, punch
, trans-title=Cocktails: drinks and cobblers, liqueurs, champagne drinks, fruit punches and cold soups, punsch
, date=1927
, publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell
, location=Uppsala
, language=sv
, id={{LIBRIS, 1336500

Liqueurs
Swedish distilled drinks
Cultural history of Sweden
Swedish East India Company