Canelazo
Encyclopedia
Canelazo is a hot alcoholic beverage
consumed in the Andean highlands of Ecuador
, Colombia
, and Peru
.
(sugar cane alcohol), sugar or panela
, and agua de canela (water boiled with cinnamon
). Canelazo is traditionally made with homemade aguardiente, but bottled alcohol is also used. There are many variations on the recipe. It is often made with fruit juice (typically naranjilla
juice, but also lemon
juice). Cloves are sometimes added, and alcohol is sometimes omitted.
The origins of the drink are unknown, but the drink has long been consumed in the Andes. In Ecuador, the drink is often sold by street vendors during fiestas. It is especially popular during Christmas
. In 2005, one business began bottling canelazo without alcohol for export.
in Piura
. It consists of aguardiente with sugar (or chancaca
) and cinnamon boiled in water; lemon and chicha de jora may also be added.
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
consumed in the Andean highlands of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
In Ecuador and Colombia
It typically consists of aguardienteAguardiente
Aguardiente , aiguardent , aguardente , and augardente are generic terms for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume...
(sugar cane alcohol), sugar or panela
Panela
Panela is unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Latin America, which is basically a solid piece of sucrose and fructose obtained from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice....
, and agua de canela (water boiled with cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
). Canelazo is traditionally made with homemade aguardiente, but bottled alcohol is also used. There are many variations on the recipe. It is often made with fruit juice (typically naranjilla
Naranjilla
Solanum quitoense, known as naranjilla |orange]]") in Ecuador and as lulo in Colombia, is a subtropical perennial plant from northwestern South America. The specific name for this species of nightshade means "from Quito."...
juice, but also lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
juice). Cloves are sometimes added, and alcohol is sometimes omitted.
The origins of the drink are unknown, but the drink has long been consumed in the Andes. In Ecuador, the drink is often sold by street vendors during fiestas. It is especially popular during Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
. In 2005, one business began bottling canelazo without alcohol for export.
In Peru
Canelazo is consumed in the northern highlands of Peru, specifically around AyabacaAyabaca
Ayabaca is a town located in the highlands of the Piura Region in northwestern Peru. It is located in the Ayabaca Province and is capital of that province. The town is located at 2,815 meters above sea level and has good weather...
in Piura
Piura Region
Piura is a coastal region in northwestern Peru. The region's capital is Piura and its largest port cities, Paita and Talara, are also among the most important in Peru...
. It consists of aguardiente with sugar (or chancaca
Chancaca
Chancaca is a typical Peruvian, Bolivian, and Chilean sweet sauce made of raw unrefined sugar crystallized with honey. It is often flavored with orange peel and is consumed on sopaipillas or picarones....
) and cinnamon boiled in water; lemon and chicha de jora may also be added.