Made: mulling sachets

These little sachets make great stocking fillers, or would be perfect tied around the neck of a wine or cider bottle as a gift for a friend.

You will need...

Two pieces of white muslin, approx. 16cm x 8cm
Ribbon to tie
Label with instructions
2 x cinnamon sticks
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries (if you can find them, I really struggled)
1 star anise
1 slice of dried orange (I dry mine in a very low oven for around 2 hours, turning often)

1. Sew the muslin together along three sides, leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance, to form a bag (this is much easier on a machine, as you need the sachets to be tightly sewn).  I used pinking shears to trim the seam; alternatively trim the excess down and turn right side out.
2. Put the spices into the sachet with the dried orange. 
3. Sew the top to seal, about 1/3 of the way down the bag.
4. Tie with festive ribbon and add a label with the instructions: "Remove label & ribbon.  Put the sachet in a pan with two tablespoons of brown sugar, one bottle of red wine or one litre of cider and heat gently.  Optional additions include sloe gin, rum, vanilla extract, orange juice to taste."