South American Canelazo Recipe

Canelazo with orange juice

Canelazo is a popular drink in South America which consists of alcohol, water, sugar and cinnamon. All the ingredients except for the alcohol are heated up in a pot and simmered slowly over low heat. After, the alcohol is mixed in and the canelazo is served immediately whilst still warm.

The alcohol used to make canelazo is aguardiente. It is a sweet liquor distilled from sugar cane with a high alcohol content. Aguardiente flavors vary between regions. In Ecuador it is generally unflavored while Colombian aguardiente is flavored with anise. Canelazo is also made with punta, a homemade version of aguardiente.

Variations are made with additional flavorings. The most popular is naranjillazo. ‘Naranja’ means orange in Spanish and this version is made with pure orange juice. Other variations are made with additional spices like cloves and other citrus fruit like lime.

Origin & Cultural Significance

Canelazo is a typical drink from the Andes regions due to its warming effect and simplicity. It is popular the high land regions of Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador where it is believed to have originated. It has since become a drink enjoyed during the holidays and celebrations. They may be found served from street carts or in restaurants, dressed up in fancy glasses rimmed with sugar.

Canelazo served with cinnamon sticks

South American Canelazo Recipe

Yield: 6 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Canelazo is a popular beverage in South America which consists of alcohol, water, sugar and cinnamon.

Ingredients

  • Water - 6 cups
  • Cinnamon - 8 sticks
  • Panela sugar (grated) - 1 cup
  • Aguardiente - to taste

Instructions

  1. In a medium sized pot, add all the ingredients except the aguardiente.
  2. Bring them to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat.
  4. Mix in the aguardiente. (For a light canelazo add about
    6 oz of aguardiente, for a medium-strong add 9 oz of aguardiente, and 12 oz for a strong canelazo)
  5. Serve right away.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 13Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.

Photo Credit: fabulousfabs

Photo Credit: Pau García Solbes

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