MAIN INGREDIENTS
Chicha de piña is a chicha version made with pineapple. It is a refreshing, fizzy drink found in numerous Latin American countries, and it comes in several varieties. Although it is usually fermented, it can also be simmered and served immediately.
Typical ingredients include pineapple core and rind, sugar, preferably brown sugar or unrefined cane sugar (panela or piloncillo), water, and optionally spices such as cinnamon sticks or anise. If fermented, the combination is usually left for several days.
Mate de coca is a herbal infusion that is made by steeping coca leaves or teabags consisting of coca leaves in hot water. This ancient drink has been traditionally enjoyed to treat altitude sickness, and due to the small amounts of alkaloids, it is also regarded as a slightly energizing drink.
Although they share a similar name, mate de coca and mate—a herbal infusion often associated with Argentina—should not be mixed up. Coca tea is widely available and legal throughout South America, but outside the region, many countries ban the import and consummation due to the link between coca leaves and cocaine.
Horchata lojana is a local drink from Ecuador. Although it is called horchata, it does not share many similarities with other rice or seed-based creamy Latin American drinks. Lojana is better classified as a herbal infusion or herbal tea made with a variety of locally-sourced herbs.
Numerous herbs can be used for this horchata—research mentions over 70 different species—but some common options include basil, chamomile, and lemon verbena. Several plants are always used to provide a distinctive red hue. Typically, twenty to thirty herbs will be used in the preparation.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.