This is the long-promised recounting of our culinary adventure while vacationing on Isla Mujeres.  Puerto Moreles is a ferry trip and then a taxi ride away and even though it is hard to budge us from our precious Isla once we arrive, the promise of a new adventure involving food and beverages, was hard to resist.  This first installment is written by Sister #3.

When you think of enjoying a nice cold one in Mexico it is likely a cold Corona or a salty lime margarita come to mind?.  Mexico is a hot country and it is important to stay hydrated, and liquor, while refreshing, is not the answer.  If you are looking for a delicious alcohol free beverage while south of the boarder, there is a plethora to choose from.  

I never drink pop at home but I must confess I’m a bit addicted to Mexican soda.  Sure you can find the standard cola, lemon-lime and orange flavours but you will also be treated to some very unique taste sensations.  Jurritos is a popular brand and I am pleased to say they are now readily available for purchase at Latin markets around our fair city. Mango, guava, pineapple, watermelon are all fruit flavours that I can’t believe no one in North America is producing in soda.  They also make tamarind, which is a lovely sour taste, and one called Jamaica, which I have not tried, made from hibiscus stamen. I have eaten hibiscus and would say it is a bit perfumy for my taste.  My very favorite flavor is Manzana, which means apple, and it is harder to find. Lift, a coca-cola made version, is everywhere in Mexico but I love Sidral Mundet, which, like the Jurritos, comes in a glass bottle with a pop top. 

On our last visit to Mexico, my sister Kathryne and a friend and I took a day trip to experience The Little Mexican Cooking School in Puerto Morelos.  Besides learning about the food of Mexico we had the opportunity to try some of their homemade “soft’ drinks. 

We started our morning with a chocolate making demo and then this delectable hand made chocolate was used as the base of our first beverage. By adding water and ice our cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, and cacao seeds, AKA artesian chocolate, we had a light and refreshing, and might I add, caffeinated beverage.

Our next break featured a frosty jar of melon agua fresca, which translates to fresh water.  To make agua fresca fruit is pureed and then strained through cheese cloth.  Water, lime juice are added and voila!  Another kind of fresh water was our treat at the next break.  Horchata is made by adding water to ground rice, cinnamon, sugar and a little lime zest. The mixture is strained and the flavourful rice milk is the result. 

We ended our day with a cold corona, followed by a glass of sangria and a shot of really good tequila with our main meal. OK old habits are hard to break, but it was great to have the chance to enjoy other traditional Mexican beverages that day.

Kath’s quote: “The correct order of beverages is starting with the most temperate and ending with the most heady.” –Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Love-that is all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share on Facebook