Costa Rican cuisine is typically not top of mind when we think of fine dining or world-renowned, however their homemade “agua frescas” and limonadas are inventive drinks that may just make the list. In Costa Rica, not serving fruit drinks is unthinkable! It’s so deeply ingrained in the culture that most restaurants offer at least three or four options. So whether out at a “soda” (a mom and pop’s family style restaurant) or visiting someone’s home, you can almost be sure a local has some favourite flavour of their own concoction waiting to be poured over ice and served on hot summer day. Herein are two all time favourites sure to keep you hydrated and satiated.
“Agua de sapo” (Toad Water)
- Ingredients
- 4 liters of water
- 1 “tapa de dulce” (unrefined whole cane sugar)
- 250 grams of ginger
- 1 cup “limones” (local lemons/limes) juice
Preparation:
Boil 1 liter of water with the “tapa de dulce” broken into pieces, mis in the ginger that has been cut into pieces and mashed. Let it cook until the “tapa de dulce” is completely dissolved. Allow moisture to cool and pass through a strainer. Add the lemon and the rest of the water. Serve over ice.
Limonada Hierba Buena Casera (Homemade Lemonade)
- Ingredients
- 500 mL of water
- 2-3 “limones” (local lemons/limes) juice
- A few slices of grated ginger
- Natural sweetener (simple syrup, sugar or honey) to taste
- Handful of mint leaves (or local variety of mint called “hierba buena”)
- 5-6 Ice cubes
Preparation:
Squeeze juice from “limones” into the blender. Add the grated ginger, natural sweetener
and the handful of mint leaves with the water. Blend. Add a few ice cubes and blend
some more. Pour into a nice tall glass.
Another Nationwide favourite is mixing chan seeds into the juice of seasonal fruit such as tamarind or cas. Another healthy, widely available “batido” (smoothie) would be one that is particularly good for your eyes and includes blended carrots, ginger and orange juice. Typically, any drink mixture would be made with natural fruit and mixed with water or milk. You may also add a bit of a sweetener (sugar or honey) and even some lime for taste. Whatever the taste, go with your buds!
