Cold Hands, Warm Mugs: Why Cold Weather Still Gets to Me as a Coeliac

I have mixed feelings about cold weather. On the one hand, it’s the season of oversized jumpers, steaming stews, and socially acceptable hibernation. On the other — it’s also the season of disappointment. Why? Because I still haven’t found a decent gluten-free Horlicks alternative.

There’s something deeply nostalgic about cold nights as a kid: coming in from the garden with numb fingers, peeling off wet socks by the radiator, and being handed a hot, creamy mug of Horlicks that smelt like comfort in a cup. That malty smell. That sleepy hug of a drink. That brief, sugary promise that everything was going to be alright.

Now? Now I read labels like a detective on the brink of a breakdown, and let me tell you — malted drinks are basically off-limits for coeliacs. Gluten-free malt is a unicorn. And yes, I’ve tried the fancy alternatives. They taste like regret and powdered cardboard.

So how do I feel about cold weather these days?

Honestly, it’s a little bittersweet. I still love the way frost makes everything look like it’s been dusted in icing sugar. I still love cooking slow roasts, sipping broths, and pretending I’m the kind of person who lights candles with purpose.

But I also miss simple comforts. The kind you don’t realise are laced with gluten until you’re staring at the ingredient list with a sinking heart.

So, I adapt. I sip gluten-free hot chocolate, experiment with oat-based drinks, and add too much cinnamon to everything because I can. And while it’s not quite the same, it’s still warm, still soothing, and still mine.

And who knows — maybe one day they’ll make a gluten-free Horlicks that doesn’t taste like disappointment. Until then, I’ll keep my hands wrapped around whatever warm mug I can get.