Quick answer
There is no traditional alcohol-free milk wine, because the arrack is essential to the method. Instead, Sri Lankan hosts offer non-drinkers alcohol-free ginger wine, a sweet, spicy cordial; fruit cordials such as lime, passion fruit or wood apple; faluda, a rose milk drink with basil seeds and jelly; king coconut water; and soft drinks such as ginger beer and cream soda. Some cooks make a spiced, clarified citrus syrup for children, though it is a different drink.
Key takeaways
- There is no traditional alcohol-free milk wine.
- Alcohol-free ginger wine is the most common Christmas alternative.
- Fruit cordials, faluda, king coconut and soft drinks are also offered.
- Children are always given alcohol-free drinks with their Christmas cake.
- Hosts are used to guests who decline alcohol and will not be offended.
Why there is no alcohol-free milk wine
The alcohol in milk wine does more than add strength. Together with the citrus acid, it curdles the milk, and it preserves the finished drink. Without it, the milk would not clarify in the same way, and the result would spoil quickly.
Some cooks make a spiced citrus syrup clarified with milk for children, but it must be kept in the fridge and drunk within days. It is a different drink, and most families do not bother.
Instead, hosts offer a range of alcohol-free drinks, several of which are as much a part of Sri Lankan Christmas as milk wine.
Ginger wine
Ginger wine is the most common alternative. Many families make it as a strong, sweet ginger cordial, boiling crushed fresh ginger with sugar, cloves, cinnamon and lime, then straining and bottling it. Served diluted or neat in small glasses, it is fiery and warming.
Not all ginger wine is alcohol-free. Some families ferment it lightly with yeast. If it matters, ask the host which bottle is which.
Ginger wine is the drink most often given to children and non-drinkers at Christmas, and many adults prefer it to milk wine.
Home-made ginger wine is sometimes sold at church fairs alongside Christmas cake, and supermarkets stock bottled ginger cordials. Visitors who enjoy it can take a bottle home, since an alcohol-free cordial is much simpler to pack and carry than milk wine.
- →Base: fresh ginger, sugar, spice, lime.
- →Taste: sweet and fiery.
- →Check: some versions are fermented.
Cordials and faluda
Fruit cordials are a Sri Lankan staple. Lime, passion fruit, wood apple, mango and rose cordials are made at home or bought bottled, and mixed with water or soda. They are offered to visitors throughout the year, and at Christmas they join the tray.
Faluda is a festive favourite: rose syrup with milk, basil seeds, jelly and sometimes ice cream, served in a tall glass. It is sweet, pink and especially popular with children.
Wood apple juice, thick and tangy, is an unusual taste for many visitors and worth trying.
- →Cordials: lime, passion fruit, wood apple, mango, rose.
- →Faluda: rose milk, basil seeds, jelly.
- →Wood apple: thick and tangy.
King coconut and soft drinks
King coconut water, drunk straight from the bright orange nut, is refreshing on a hot December day and widely available from roadside sellers. Some hosts offer it to guests.
Sri Lankan soft drinks, including ginger beer and cream soda, are popular at Christmas, especially with children. Ginger beer is spicier than many foreign versions.
Tea is always available, and many hosts offer a cup with Christmas cake for guests who prefer it.
Fresh lime juice, sweetened and served with soda or water, is another everyday Sri Lankan drink that hosts make in minutes. It is sharp, refreshing and pairs surprisingly well with a square of rich Christmas cake.
- →King coconut: refreshing, roadside.
- →Ginger beer and cream soda: local favourites.
- →Tea: always on offer.
How to ask
If you do not drink alcohol, say so simply and ask for a soft drink. A phrase such as I do not drink alcohol, but I would love some cake and a soft drink works well. Hosts are used to it.
Accept the cake even if you decline the milk wine, as refusing everything can seem cold. Compliment the cake and the drink you are given.
Lankan Stays & Trails guests who do not drink are advised to accept cake and ask for ginger wine, which is offered with the same warmth as milk wine.
- →Say: simply and with a smile.
- →Accept: the cake.
- →Ask: for ginger wine or a soft drink.
Children at Christmas
Children are never given milk wine. They are offered soft drinks, cordials, faluda or alcohol-free ginger wine with their Christmas cake.
Christmas cake itself sometimes contains a little spirit, mostly baked off. If you need to avoid alcohol completely, ask the baker.
Families travelling with children at Christmas will find hosts well prepared, and children often enjoy the sweets and decorations most.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a non-alcoholic milk wine?
There is no traditional alcohol-free version. The arrack curdles the milk and preserves the drink, so it is essential to the method. Hosts offer alcohol-free ginger wine, cordials, faluda and soft drinks to children and non-drinkers instead.
What do Sri Lankans drink at Christmas if they do not drink alcohol?
Alcohol-free ginger wine is the most common choice, along with fruit cordials such as lime and passion fruit, faluda, king coconut water, soft drinks like ginger beer and cream soda, and tea. All are offered with Christmas cake.
Is Sri Lankan ginger wine alcohol-free?
Often, but not always. Many families make it as a strong, sweet ginger cordial with no alcohol, while others ferment it lightly. If it matters to you, ask the host which bottle is which before drinking.
What is faluda?
Faluda is a sweet drink of rose syrup and milk, with basil seeds, jelly and sometimes ice cream, served in a tall glass. It is popular at festivals and with children, and offered at Christmas as an alcohol-free treat.
What should children drink at a Sri Lankan Christmas?
Children are offered soft drinks, cordials, faluda or alcohol-free ginger wine with their Christmas cake. They are never given milk wine. Some Christmas cakes contain a little spirit, so ask the baker if you need to avoid alcohol entirely.
Will my host be offended if I decline milk wine?
No. Sri Lankan hosts are used to guests who do not drink, including children, drivers and Muslim friends. Say so simply, accept the cake and ask for a soft drink or ginger wine. Your host will happily oblige.