Cosy up with tradition! Here’s how to make the perfect Maltese ‘imbuljuta’ this Christmas
As the Maltese air begins to chill, there’s nothing more pleasant than ending the day with a warm drink, and what better option than the traditional Maltese ‘imbuljuta’ - a warm drink made using cocoa, chestnuts, cloves and citrus zest.
Typically served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve, the ‘imbuljuta’ is a rich, comforting, chocolatey drink, and the perfect antidote to cold weather. With the key ingredient being chestnuts, some choose to spice up the traditional recipe with, say, one of their favourite chocolates.
The traditional recipe, however, as featured by Apron & Whisk, is as follows:
Ingredients
450g dried chestnuts, 175g sugar, 50g drinking chocolate, 50g dark chocolate, grated rind of 1 orange, grated rind of 1 tangerine, mixed spice, cloves, water
Instructions
- Wash the chestnuts thoroughly. Place them in a large bowl and cover them with water. Leave to soak overnight.
- Next day remove any loose pieces of skin.
- Place chestnuts in a deep pot.
- Add sugar, drinking chocolate, dark chocolate, orange rind, tangerine rind, mixed spice & cloves.
- Add enough water to cover ingredients.
- Bring to a boil.
- Continue cooking at medium heat for about 45 minutes.
- Chestnuts should be tender, if not, continue cooking until done, making sure to top up with water if mixture starts to dry.
- Serve hot and indulge!
How do you like to make your 'imbuljuta'?