Spiced pineapple drink {Chicha de piña}
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr
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Servings
2 liters
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Course
Drinks
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Cuisine
South American, Ecuadorian
Spiced pineapple drink {Chicha de piña}
Description
Chicha de piña starts with organic pineapple skins and core combined with panela sugar and a mix of warming spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and anise. The mixture is simmered partially covered for about an hour, allowing the flavors to meld and extract a robust, sweet-spiced taste from the pineapple and spices. After cooking, the beverage can be consumed warm or cooled and refrigerated to concentrate flavors further.
The resulting drink features a gentle natural sweetness balanced by the deep spice notes. The texture is smooth as solids are typically strained out before serving. The flexible temperature serving options make it suitable for different occasions and climate conditions.
Chicha de piña is often served as a refreshing traditional beverage. It can also be fermented by mixing partly boiled pineapple skins with raw remains and allowing it to sit at room temperature until fermentation starts, resulting in a mildly effervescent drink. This variation requires more preparation time and monitoring.
Ingredients
- pineapple skins and core organic if possible and well washed, from 1 pineapple
- ½ to ¾ lb panela piloncillo or brown sugar, whole or in chunks - more or less to taste
- cinnamon sticks all spice peppers, cloves, anise, etc, assorted spices
- 10-12 cups of water
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in large saucepan or pot
- Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered for at about an hour, stirring occasionally.
- Let cool down, unless you are drinking it warm or hot, you can drink it immediately or let it rest refrigerated to allow the spices and pineapple flavor to concentrate.
Notes
- To make fermented chicha de piña, boil half the pineapple skins with panela and spices, then mix with raw skins and core; cover and let ferment at room temperature until bubbly before straining and refrigerating.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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