15 Popular Mixed Drinks To Try In Latin America.

By Marhuanta Barreto 1 week ago

Latin America is a region that has an enormous variety of landscapes, cities, towns, climate, indigenous culture, colors and gastronomy that makes it so rich. That being said, we think it is a good idea to have a little recap on the most popular mixed drinks everyone who is travelling to the area should try.

But first, what is considered to be Latin America? Well, in a superficial level, one could say that the LatAm area goes from Mexico all the way down south to the tip of the Patagonia; basically because most of these countries share a common spanish heritage being language the most important of them.

Common ingredients that are native to the region as potatoes, agave, maguey, yucca, corn and some others that were brought by the europeans centuries ago like the sugar cane, either distilled or fermented all came together to define some of the tasties beverages in the world. From northern Mexico to Argentina, we go over the most famous non-alcoholic and alcoholic mixed drinks.

1. Aguas Frescas. Mexico

As we had stated before, Aguas Frescas are among the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in Mexico. Made out of fruits, seeds or flower infussion, they can be mixed with just plain water, they can be mixed with lemon or lime juice like the oh so delicious Agua de Chaya.

2. Pulque. Mexico

This precolumbian beverage is typical from central Mexico and is made out of the a syrup from agave or maguey leave. Thought it can be a little bit sour and icky at times, there has been a revival of this drink in Mexico City´s most trendy bars in a more “curated” or gourmet like way, mixed with different fruits such as blackberries or mangoes.

3. Mezcal. Mexico

This distilled spirit drink comes from the state of Oaxaca, it is made of the maguey leave and in náhuatl language means “oven cooked agave”. It is also traditionally accompanied with sliced oranges and some “worm salt” which consists on defried ground larvae, ground chili poder and salt.

4. Tequila. Mexico

Do we really have to explain tequila? The most popular alcoholic beverage in Mexico comes from the agave plant (a type of cactus) which is distilled. Commonly drank with salt and a slice of lemon, there are a good number of cocktails that use tequila as its base as the world famous Margarita.

5. Mojito. Cuba

Probably one of the most famous cocktails in the world it was made popular in Cuba thought it has a much more interesting background. Rumor has it that in the 16th century, the famous pirate Francis Drake invented the drink mixing white rum, crushed mint leaves, sugar and lime to fight scurvy (eeewwww). He left the island but Mojitos stayed in Havana.

6. Cuba Libre. Cuba

Another famous mixed drink from the gorgeous island of Cuba. Historians (that is, local myths) place the birth of this cocktail in the late 19th century and early 20th century when the United States helped the island to get its Independence from Spain. It is said that the american soldiers added Coca Cola to the rum and boom! The first Cuba Libres were born!

7. Mamajuana. Dominican Republic.

This traditional dominican drink was prepared by the native Taino indians before the arrival of Christopher Columbus as a herbal tea with a mixture of honey, tree barks and herbs to treat different health conditions. Once the spaniards arrived to the island rum and red wine were added to the mix. Dominicans still use it for medicinal purpouses as it is believed that helps cure from the most basic flu to digestion, as a blood cleanser and even as an aphrodisiac. Would you try it in your next visit to Santo Domingo?

8. Aguardiente. Colombia and Costa Rica.

The translation if this distilled spirits drink would be “Fiery Water”. It is cristal clear like water and it burns once ot goes down your throat. It is one of the most common beverages in Costa Rica and Colombia, being the last one´s most famous alcoholic drink thought colombians add anise to the mix to give it more flavour and smell. This is not for for soft people.

9. Masato. Colombia, Peru and Venezuela

This beverage can be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic depending on which country you are in. In Colombia and Venezuela made out of fermented yucca, rise, corn or pineapple; is not particularly sweet and usually drunk in the afternoon accompanied with pastries. In Peru is almost exclusively made of yucca and has some alcoholic degree.

10. Papelón con Limón. Venezuela.

This is another refreshing non-alcoholic mixed drink, just like the mexican Aguas Frescas, it is typical of this country during hot days, is made out of raw hardened sugar cane juice called “papelón” mixed with water and lime or lemon juice in equal parts. The bitter and sweet mix is a feist for the mouth.

11. Canelazo. Ecuador.

Ecuatorians cope with the cold weather with this sugar cane distilled drink, it is a raw liquor that is later infused with water, orange, cinnamon and is sweetened with brown sugar. Did we mention this is also a sugar bomb?

12. Chicha. Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Central America, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

This is a very popular beverage and it is quite different from country to country, it can be non-alcoholic but there are also alcoholic versions of it, mostly depends on if it has been fermented or not. In most countries is made out of corn being Peru´s Chicha Morada or Purple Chicha the most outstanding of them all because well, is made out of purple corn. Other countries like Chile have their own alcoholic versions made out of fermented apples and grapes while in Venezuela is a very sweet and thick beverage made out of rise and mixed with condensed milk and cinnamon.

13. Pisco Sour. Peru and Chile.

This is one of the most disputed mixed beverages in the world because both Peru and Chile claim its authorship. Whoever the father of this alcoholic beverage is, it is sure delicious. Pisco is a liquor made out of grapes and the sour comes from the lemon juice and egg white mix.

14. Caipirinha. Brazil.

The key ingredient to make caipirinahs is cachaça, a strong white liquor made from fermented sugar cane that is later mixed with lemon juice and sugar. It is said that the origin of this mixed drink goes all the way back to african slaves that used to mix rum with any other fresh fruit juice.

15. Tereré. Paraguay and Argentina.

“Yerba Mate” is basically the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, it was cultivated by the Guaranis long before Columbus arrived to South America and is a leave that is infused with hot water like a very thick tea but Tereré is its hot weather version. This is drunk cold and the mate infusión is mixed with a variety of citrus juices, thought this is a non-alcoholic beverage its effects on the human body are very similar to those of cafeine.

So, there you have it, either you want to sip mojitos on the beach to sweeten your afternoon with a chicha or cheat the heat with tereré, these are the tastiest mixed drinks you need to try when travelling in Latinamerica and the Caribbean.