Tej-Inspired Honey Wine Cocktail with Ethiopian Spices

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A fragrant honey wine cocktail inspired by Ethiopian Tej, infused with warm spices and a bright citrus twist for a refreshing yet traditional flavor. This Ethiopian-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, brings together honey, hot water, white wine for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 1 Ethiopian cuisine 180 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The shaker and jigger we’d mix this with → Best Bar Tools for 2026: Shakers, Jiggers & Strainers Worth Buying

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Kitchen tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a small heatproof bowl, combine 2 tbsp honey with 1/4 cup hot water, stirring until the honey fully dissolves to create a honey syrup.
  2. Step 2: In a small saucepan, combine the honey syrup with 1 cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves, 2 slightly crushed cardamom pods, and 1 star anise. Simmer gently over low heat for 5 minutes to infuse the spices.
  3. Step 3: Remove the spices by straining the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a mixing glass and discard the solids.
  4. Step 4: Add 6 oz white wine and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice to the spiced honey syrup.
  5. Step 5: Fill a cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice cubes, pour in the spiced honey wine mixture, and shake vigorously for 15 seconds until chilled.
  6. Step 6: Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a thin lemon wheel if desired for a bright presentation.

Related recipes