Everyone knows about tequila, whether good or bad experiences, however Mexico has a lot to offer. Let’s take a look at some non-alcoholic classic Mexican drinks!
Sangrita
A Sangrita means “little blood”, however do not let that put you off of a fine drink. Usually accompanied with a shot of tequila, for anyone who does not drink or wish to drink, a Sangrita is still pleasant without tequila. It was designed to compliment the tequila’s acidity and cleanses the palate with every sip. As a precaution, do not shot this please. It is a mixture of spices and juices which is sweet, savoury and spicy! There is no set recipe for a classic Sangrita as the original design has been lost throughout the ages, however you will notice that modern recipes use more tomato juice while the older scripts focus on more orange and lime. Why not try both?!
Sangrita Recipe
Nice and easy to do. All that is needed is to mix all the ingredients together then strain it into your choice of glass, you just want the juices not all the little bits that make a drink unpleasant.
- 150ml Tomato Juice
- 150ml Orange Juice
- 30ml Lime Juice
- 2 Dashes Tabasco Sauce
- 1 Pinch Salt
Experiment a little! Try less tomato juice and more lime juice for a more sour taste. While doing that, amp up the tabasco for more kick!
Non Alcoholic Margarita
A non-alcoholic/virgin cocktail most of the time replaces alcohol with either juice or sparkling water. I see most sites or recipes use sparkling water that is flavoured for virgin cocktails, my personal preference is always use fresh ingredients. The first taste must be as great as the last, rememberable! A Margarita is the signature cocktail of Mexico, more so in the state of Jalisco.
Enough history, a Virgin Margarita in my eyes opens the door for creativity. Usually, one can use lime, orange juice and another element to keep the sour kick. Another step is to make a frozen version, not like a slushy but something different.
Virgin Margarita
Now if I’m honest, most recipes will make a sweet version of a margarita so let’s do something different. We’ll still incorporate sweet elements such as; orange juice, but just a tad!
- 30ml Mango Juice
- 30ml Lime Juice
- 30ml Orange Juice
- 25ml Passionfruit Puree
- 2bsp Passionfruit Syrup
- Salt Rim
The other fruit that stands out as sour to me (other than lemon of course!) is Passionfruit. There is a hint of sweetness, but it brings our flavour and sourness. It is a tropical twist, and the mango juice really works well with orange. But the salt rim is a must as it complements the sour element, lime!
Champurrado
So we move from Mexican cold drinks, to some of Mexico’s finest hot drinks! Champurrado has been called many things such as “drink of the Gods”, it was given to soldiers and workers a like to give them that much needed energy until it became to hot in the day to have another Champurrado. However, whether hot or cold I like to enjoy a country’s heritage with every cup. I assume we all know what hot chocolate is, so let’s make Mexico’s version!
A Thick Hot Chocolate
To make this drink, it does not to boiled down, simmered and served with care. The thicker the sauce, the hotter it will be, and Champurrado is no exception. But, the wait will be worth it! This serves up to 4 people.
- 3 Cups of Milk
- 2 ½ Cups of Water
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 2 Mexican Chocolate
- 200ml Piloncillo
- ¾ Cup of Corn Flour
Get the milk to simmer and mix the cinnamon sticks, chocolate and Piloncillo together until it dissolves and is smooth. Then mix the water and the corn flour together until there are no lumps, after that you can pour it into the mixture and keep stirring for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!
Agua Fresca
Agua Fresca, in translation is “fresh water” or “cool water”, is a very refreshing drink made with water and fruit. However it stands apart from juice and water, fruit juice is usually made by squeezing the juice from the fruit, but becomes diluted. Agua Fresca starts with fresh water and the fruit is blended or squeezed into it, which creates a lighter and more refreshing drink that is mostly water. It can be quite versatile and each drink is unique, it is not just a regular juice or water, but a nice addition to a hot summer’s day.
Fruit Agua Fresca
Using fresh water, fruit, some sugar and maybe a bit of ice, we can make a very thirst-quenching drink.
- 2 cups of fresh water
- 1 cup of freshly squeezed fruit
- ½ cup of sugar (brown or white/can use sweeteners or simple syrup)
- 20ml lime juice
- Lime wedge (garnish)
- Ice (optional)
This does require a blender as we will combine all ingredients together to make a smooth puree, however we will pour it through a sieve, to get just the liquid minus the bits and pieces. Try it out first before you add additional sugar, serve over ice and enjoy this Mexican classic.
Horchata
A creamy and sweet delight with a twist. A Horchata is an Authentic Mexican Rice drink, made with rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. This homemade concoction is unique and delicious. Let’s get straight to it!
East Horchata
- 1 cup of long-grain white rice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cups of water
- 1 cup of milk
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- 2tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup of sugar
With a blender, add rice, two cups of water and two cinnamon sticks. Blend for a couple minutes or until the rice and cinnamon sticks are roughly ground. Then add the remaining water and blend again. Now it is ready to pour into a container and store overnight. Pour the mixture into a strainer then discard the rice. Stir the milk, vanilla, cinnamon and sugar until smooth and chill afterwards.