Glühwein (German Mulled Wine) vs Vin Chaud

Both drinks steep dry red wine with cinnamon, cloves, star anise and orange over gentle heat, never letting it boil, yet they handle those shared aromatics differently. Glühwein adds thick orange rounds straight to the pot, sometimes with a squeeze of juice, for a juicier citrus note, and is sweetened with plain sugar to taste. Vin Chaud uses strips of zest pared away from the bitter pith and studded with cloves, sweetens with brown sugar and infuses a little longer. An optional splash of brandy at the end can add extra warmth.