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4.8 from 378 votes

Ecuadorian Colada Morada: a spiced berry and purple corn drink

This Ecuadorian colada morada is a traditional thick drink made with fruits, spices, and purple corn flour. Colada morada is prepared for the Day of the Deceased celebrations in Ecuador.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 55 mins
Servings: 10
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: South American , Ecuadorian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup purple or black corn flour can use corn starch –aka maicena – as a replacement
  • 14 oz naranjilla or lulo pulp thawed if frozen – use passion fruit or pineapple juice if you can’t find naranjilla juice
  • 2 cups blackberries frozen or fresh
  • 2 cups blueberries frozen or fresh
  • 2 cups strawberries sliced
  • 1 pineapple peels and core + 2 cups finely diced
  • 1 ishpingo Cinnamon flower - omit if you can’t find any
  • 5-6 cinnamon sticks
  • 4-5 whole cloves
  • 4-5 all spice berries
  • 1 star anise
  • 12-14 oz Panela or Brown Sugar adjust to your taste
  • A few lemon verbena leaves fresh or dry
  • A few lemongrass leaves fresh or dry
  • 2 pieces orange peel
  • Additional aromatic herbs: arrayan ataco (purple amaranth), orange leaves
  • 12 cups water (8 cups for the pineapple skins + spices part, and the remaining 4 cups for the berry mix)
  • Additional fruits that can be added: babaco, peaches, apples, pears, ciruelas

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place the pineapple skins and core, cinnamon, spices and panela or brown sugar in a large pot with 8 cups of water. Boil for about 20-25 minutes.
  2. Add the lemon verbena, lemongrass, and orange peel.
  3. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove and strain.
  4. In a separate pot, add 4 cups of water with the blueberries and blackberries, boil for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool down until safe to handle, blend and strain.
  5. Mix the cup of the purple corn flour with 1 cup of the spice pineapple liquid until well diluted.
  6. Add the strained berry mix, the naranjilla juice, the spiced pineapple liquid and the diluted purple flour mix to a large pot.
  7. Cook over medium heat, stir constantly to keep it from sticking, bring to a boil.
  8. Add the pineapple chunks and reduce to simmer for about 10 minutes.
  9. Remove from the heat, add the strawberry slices (and any additional fruits). Serve warm or cold.