Meghan Markle has been mocked online for unveiling a Christmas recipe that critics say is little more than hot water with spices.
The 44-year-old former actress shared a video on Instagram via her lifestyle brand, As Ever, showing herself preparing a festive spiced cider drink in the kitchen of her Montecito mansion.
“Okay, so for holidays I love having a really cosy warm beverage that everyone can enjoy,” Meghan said, dressed in a crisp all-white outfit as she demonstrated the drink.
“It’s so easy. All you do is boil some water, enough for eight to ten servings, and once it’s at a boil, turn it down.”
She then dropped in a muslin tea bag filled with her USD $16 (around AUD $24) Spiced Cider Mulling Spice Kit from As Ever.
“Now, what happens when you do this? When people come into your house, they go, ‘Mmm smells so good- what is that?’ and then you go, ‘Oh my gosh, let me offer you a drink’.”
To “embolden the flavour” of the beverage, Meghan added a spoonful of her brand’s USD $32 (AUD $48.95) honey, plus cinnamon sticks and lemongrass.
“Honey adds a really special note,” she said, suggesting fans could “add a spirit of choice to make it a little bit more grown up” but insisting it was “the most soothing” on its own.
Critics quickly took to Reddit and X to mock the Duchess for presenting what they dubbed “potpourri water” at a “high price point”.
“I can get a box of apple cider packets at the 1.25 store that look better than hers… Why would I want to pay $16 plus shipping for hers that don’t list ingredients or where they were sourced?” one user said.
“She acts like she invented how to boil water lol… I even bought an electric kettle so it’s faster,” said another.
Elsewhere, critics noted that Meghan’s cider drink didn’t include any actual cider.
“She deserves to be mocked. Because it is quite literally just flavoured boiled water,” one user noted on X.
“If I’m not mistaken, Meghan Markle just made mulled water? Wouldn’t you add the spices to apple cider? Or wine? Not WATER?” another said.
Still, some fans shared love for the lifestyle guru’s new recipe and product.
“I kind of hoped our Duchess #MeghanSussex might release a mulling spice kit because, come on, the festive season is incomplete without some spicy drinks!” one wrote.
“Meghan’s looking stunning AS EVER as she makes a Christmas treat, love it!” another admirer said.
The Duchess’ recipe launch coincides with the release of As Ever’s holiday collection, as well as her upcoming Netflix Christmas special With Love, Meghan, expected to premiere later in the month.
Speaking recently at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit in Washington DC, the mother-of-two teased that the episode would be a “really good one” featuring her demonstrating gift wrapping techniques- a nod to her former job teaching the skill.
She stopped short of confirming whether a third season of the lifestyle series is on the way, following reports that her USD $100 million deal with the streaming giant has been scaled back to a “first look” agreement.
Dining and Cooking