Spirits and beers have been part of Mexico’s history for centuries: Discover popular Mexican beverages and cocktails. Today, Mexico is producer and exporter of fine tequilas, the best of which are distilled from the Blue Agave which grows so well here; and Mexican beers are exported to markets-world wide. Our Bar section introduces you to some Mexican beverages and shares recipes for drinks and cocktails.
Eating your way around the country is a real treat, whether you’re grazing at late-night taco stands in small towns or digging into multi-course extravaganzas at Mexico City’s most exclusive establishments. One of the world’s most vibrant cuisines, Mexican food delights with its variety, with its abundant use of herbs and chilies, and ingredients as diverse as fresh coastal seafood and the dried beef of the desert-like northern states.
Tequila
Tequila is Mexico’s National Drink, and one of the icons synonymous with Mexico. The spirit is distilled in just a small handful of locations in Mexico; it is tightly regulated to ensure quality and enjoyed widely by Mexicans as it is by people all over the world.
How Tequila is Made
Tequila is distilled from the Blue Agave (ah-gah-veh) plant. As the story goes, back in the days of the Conquest, wine and brandy were in short supply, so the Spanish ordered that the Agave be processed and distilled to create alcohol. The plant is grown primarily in the state of Jalisco, with additional plantations also present in Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit and Tamaulipas, although all tequila production takes place in the state of Jalisco. Tequila can be enjoyed straight or with a wide variety of mixers – see below for cocktail recipes.
Mexican Beers
Mexicans have been brewing beer for centuries and today Mexico is one of the world’s top beer-producing countries. A large range and variety of beers are brewed in Mexico, and some of them are top selling beers in markets other than Mexico, including the USA, Canada, Europe and Australasia.
Types of Mexican Beer
The majority of beers in Mexico are lagers, pilsners, Vienna-style light and dark beers, as well as Munich dark beers. Local micro breweries produce a small range of sales your best chance of tasting the local ales is to visit a decent bar or bistro. Beers produced by the major breweries sold in Mexico are either available nationally or regionally. Over 90% of the beers sold in Mexico are produced by the “big two” brewers, and a description of their principal products and brands is summarized below.
Kahlua
Kahlua is a rich, dark and smooth coffee based liqueur drink from Mexico. Although it is a liqueur, it is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways and thus lends itself to a wide choice of occasions.
About Kahlua
Pronounced “Kah-loo-aah”, the beverage is a dark, but soft and semi-sweet liqueur with a coffee base. Kahlua is blended in Mexico and exported world-wide. You can buy Kahlua in most supermarkets and liquor stores in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australasia. Look for the product’s signature dark colored bottle with the bright yellow and red label.
The Mexican Kitchen
In Mexico, we love food, especially our own. Ask a group of Mexicans where to find, say, the best carnitas (braised pork) in Mexico City, and you’re launching a passionate, well-informed, lengthy debate. Visiting Mexico, you’ll find out why. The food will be fresh, often locally grown, and enormously varied from one place to another, a far cry from most ‘Mexican’ fare served in restaurants outside the country. If you want to know Mexico and its people, you must try our food.
Créditos de imagen: Image by Pexels from Pixabay.