Sip and Savor: Must-Try Beverages in Mexico City
Mexico City is renowned for its vibrant food and drink scene, featuring a variety of unique beverages that reflect its rich cultural heritage. During your next vacation to this lively city, get ready to sample drinks that showcase a rich blend of indigenous and modern influences. Here are some standout beverages you must try.
Tepache
Tepache is a simple Aztec fermented creation made from the fruity flesh and rinds of pineapples, mixed with brown sugar. Sweetened with piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) and flavored with hints of cinnamon, it has a unique taste. You'll often find street vendors or local markets serving chilled tepache in large glasses with ice.
Agua de Jamaica
Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus tea) is a refreshing and unique drink you must try. The chilled, ruby-hued beverage is a favorite among locals and makes an ideal summer drink. It uses sweetened hibiscus flowers, sometimes combined with vegetables or dried flowers, and is often served with ice and lime wedges.
Café de Olla
Credit: Luisalvaz/CC BY-SA 3.0
How about a flavorful cup of coffee? Try the inviting Mexican spiced coffee, also known as Café de Olla, made with cinnamon, star anise, piloncillo (raw dark sugar), cloves, and Mexican ground coffee. You may want to visit a local restaurant and grab a concha (Mexican sweet bread) to enjoy alongside your café de olla.
Tejate
While wandering through the streets of Oaxaca City, you may stumble upon a frothy, chocolatey drink called tejate. Known in folklore as the drink that can make you a god, this unique beverage is made from a paste of toasted corn, fermented cacao beans, cacao flowers, and ground mamey pits. Mixed with water and stirred into a frothy, nutritious drink, it's definitely worth trying.
Champurrado
There's a quiet romance in cradling a cup of hot chocolate, its warmth spreading through your fingers as the rich aroma fills the air, soothing both heart and soul. Try the Mexican version, champurrado, a warm and thick corn-flour-based beverage that's perfect for fall and winter.
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