DrinksEasy

Christmas Punch

Name: Christmas Punch
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 3 Apples; 2 Pears; 50 g Prunes; 6 Guavas; 100 g Tamarind pods; 200 g Piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar); 3 Cinnamon sticks; 2 pieces Sugar cane

60 min (15 prep + 45 cook) Easy 10 servings Nacional

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 10 Feb 2026 · Updated: 10 Mar 2026

A warming Mexican Christmas punch made with seasonal fruits and piloncillo.

About this recipe

Ponche navideno is a warming fruit punch made with guava, apple, pear, tamarind, sugar cane and prunes, sweetened with piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) and spiced with cinnamon. The essential drink of the posadas and the entire Christmas season in Mexico.

History & Origin

Ponche navideño (Christmas punch) is inseparable from Mexican posadas, the celebrations held from the 16th to the 24th of December. Its origin combines the Spanish tradition of warm beverages with fruits native to Mexico, especially the tejocote, a small fruit similar to a crab apple that has been used since pre-Hispanic times. It is customary to chew on a stick of sugar cane between sips of ponche. In many households, a 'piquete' (splash) of rum, brandy, or tequila is added for the adults. The preparation of ponche officially marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Mexico.

Estimated cost

£16.34

Total cost

£1.63

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

179

Calories

Protein

25g

Carbohydrates

2.5g

Fat

Fibre

19mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Hierve 3 litres de water en a pot large. Añade the canelas en rama y el piloncillo (raw cane sugar) troceado. Cuisine over medium heat until el piloncillo (raw cane sugar) se disuelva.
2
Añade the tamarindos pelados y the ciruelas raisins. Cuisine 10 minutes.
3
Agrega la caña de sugar cortada in pieces y the guayabas cortadas for la mitad.
4
Incorpora the manzanas y peras cortadas in cubes. Cuisine over medium heat-under durante 30 minutes.
💡 No dejes hervir demasiado fuerte; el ponche se cuisine a heat soft for that the frutas conserven su shape.
5
Prueba y ajusta la dulzura with more piloncillo (raw cane sugar) si es necesario. Sirve hot en cups o jarritos de barro with pieces de fruta.