Ponche Navideño (Mexican Christmas Punch) is a festive drink that is guaranteed to liven the mood of any Holiday party. Sweet, fruity, and oh so satisfying.

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Ponche Navideño (Mexican Christmas Punch) served in a decorative clay mug with a cinnamon stick.

Ponche Navideño is a sweet, warm drink that’s served during the month of December in Mexican households everywhere.

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This Mexican Christmas Fruit Punch is made of a combination of unique ingredients, seasonal fruits and dried fruits in a large pot.

Comforting and yummy and so delicious. It’s sure to hit the spot on cold winter nights.

Table of Contents

1 ☕️ Ingredients
2 🥣 Instructions
3 👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tip
4 🕺🏻 Christmas Party Tip
5 ➕ Substitutions
6 🫙 Storing Instructions
7 🎄 More Mexican Christmas Recipes
8 😋 Hungry for More?
9 Ponche Navideño (Mexican Christmas Punch)

☕️ Ingredients

These are the main ingredients needed to make a traditional Ponche Navideño.

Hibiscus Flowers (or flor de jamaica)
Piloncillo Cone (or swap out for dark brown sugar)
Cinnamon Sticks
Fresh Tejocotes
Apple
Caña (or fresh sugar cane)
Guayaba

Optional: Plums, raisins, oranges, prunes, pineapple, blueberries, tamarind pods, whole cloves, Star Anise.

Recipe Variations: Different parts of Mexico have different recipes. In the south, for example, you will see this recipe with tropical fruits like pineapples and orange slices.

🥣 Instructions

Add water to a large stock pot.
This recipe will make roughly 16 cups, or 1 gallon.

More water will be added. Right now, we are making the base for the drink.

Translation: Ponche Navideño translated means “Christmas Punch.” Also called “Ponche Mexicano.”

👩🏼‍🍳 Pro Tip

Use the largest pot you have in the kitchen. This recipe makes enough for a party. Adjust the recipe card ingredients for a smaller batch.

Cinnamon, piloncillo, and hibiscus leaves in a pot with water.

Add the cinnamon, piloncillo, and jamaica to a large stockpot.
Boil on high heat until the piloncillo is fully melted. About 5 minutes.

If you are using star anise, tamarind, or cloves, add them here.

This beverage is usually made during the Holiday season along with champurrado, atole de chocolate, and cafe de olla.

A spoon removing the cooked jamaica leaves.

Strain hibiscus mixture from the stock pot.
Leave the whole cinnamon in the pot.

The whole cinnamon is usually served for decoration. That’s why it’s ok to leave it in the pot.

If you are using star anise, tamarind, or cloves, also remove them from the pot.

🕺🏻 Christmas Party Tip

This drink is very popular at Las Posadas, or religious Christmas parties in Mexico. Make a big batch days ahead of your celebration, even months ahead of time, and take out the day of the party. Warm up and serve! Multiply the recipe for larger parties.

Tejocotes, diced apples, and sugar cane sitting in bowls.

Wash and chop the tejocotes, red apples, and cana (or sugar cane sticks).
If you can’t find tejocotes or cana, simply omit and add more of the other fruits.

Tejocotes (also known as Hawthorn apples, crabapples, or manzanitas) is a very traditional ingredient in ponche navideño. Mexican grocery stores and Latin markets will carry them around the Christmas holidays. However, this Mexican fruit can be difficult to find in the United States.

➕ Substitutions

Substitute Crab Apples or Asian pears for tejocote.
The caña (or fresh sugarcane) was sold already chopped and found in the refrigerated section. Or, look for a large piece in the produce area of the Mexican supermarket and chop at home.
You can also buy whole sugar cane on Amazon.

A picture of a large stock pot with fruit.

Add the tejocotes, apples, and caña to the pot.
Add the rest of the water and give everything a good stir.
Simmer for 15 minutes.

For extra holiday spirit, add a splash of rum, tequila, or brandy to make “ponche con piquete.”

Many people serve this hot beverage with traditional Mexican Christmas foods like masa for tamales or Menudo recipe.

Diced guayaba in a bowl above the stock pot of ponche.

Wash and cut the guayaba in half.
Add to the pot. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

Fresh guavas will fall apart. There is no way around it.

The most important part is to taste it. Add more water if you want it less sweet. Or add sugar if you want it sweeter.

A ladle holding the fruit from the punch over a large stock pot.

🫙 Storing Instructions

Place any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To store in the freezer, pour the leftovers into a sealable bag. Remove as much air as possible for up to 6 months.

Serve warm with buñuelos or pork tamales at Holiday parties.

Hand holding a decorative clay mug with Ponche Navideno next to a Christmas tree.

🎄 More Mexican Christmas Recipes

Nothing says Christmas like the smell of Mexican Ponche Navideño and the taste of its sweet flavor on Noche Buena, or Christmas Eve.

Ladle the chunks of fruit and hot punch into serving mugs. Sure to be a hit with your guests. iFeliz Navidad!

😋 Hungry for More?

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