Refreshments For Civil War Dance

I'm digging through the Food Forum and found this one that is a period punch from @donna -

"Tea Punch" from, "The Kentucky Housewife" cookbook, 1839. It was the first recipe for chilled tea that appeared in the United States

Make a pint and a half of very strong tea in the usual manner; strain it, and pour it boiling on one pound and a quarter of loaf sugar. Add half pint of rich sweet cream, and stir in gradually a bottle of claret or of champaign. You may heat it to the boiling point, and serve it so, or you may send it round entirely cold, in glass cups.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/tea-punch.74765/#post-499291
 
Here are some links to various forum posts with beverages that don't contain alcohol -

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/two-beverages-from-louise-ludlow-dudley.93193/#post-771752

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/be...arley-water-and-rice-water.80679/#post-591365

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/autumn-spiced-cider.127330/#post-1390010

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/co...tery-newsletter-lemonade.125139/#post-1345406


It seems most Civil War era recipes were chock full of brandy and wine - sorry! I have Mrs. Beeton's book on hand, but 95% of her beverage recipes call for brandy or wine!

Paging @Albert Sailhorst and @donna who may be more versed in the drinks of the era than myself!
 
Lemonade cooled down by “hail-stones”...Shaved ice with fruit flavors would be nice as well. Could have them set out in little cups/spoons. Cider would be good.

For noms? What about those little slices of bread, spread with butter, cucumber slice and a bit of dill. Pickles in the snack/whole size? Relishes that could be put on toast points comes to mind as well.

Good luck!
 
  • Chilled Apple Cider Punch

  • ½ gallon (8 cups) apple cider
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 2 (12 ounce) bottles ginger beer***
  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • Ice
  • ***Today's brewed ginger beers are categorized as non-alcoholic drinks because their alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent, which meets FDA requirements. Since ginger beers are naturally fermented, they have less carbonation and often develop a beer-like head when poured into a glass. Ginger beer often has much more of a "gingery" flavor and because it's fermented, is less carbonated.

  • Rum, optional
  • Cinnamon stick or anise optional
 
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Lemonade cooled down by “hail-stones”...Shaved ice with fruit flavors would be nice as well. Could have them set out in little cups/spoons. Cider would be good.

For noms? What about those little slices of bread, spread with butter, cucumber slice and a bit of dill. Pickles in the snack/whole size? Relishes that could be put on toast points comes to mind as well.

Good luck!
LOVE your new avatar! :wink:
 
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