Drinks and smoothies from Costa Rica: a great tradition

Ticos always accompanies their meals with drinks, usually a fresco (juice made with water) or fruit smoothies. As there is a great variety of tropical fruits, vegetables, herbs and seeds, the frescos and batidos are extremely varied. Smoothies are very popular, made with water or milk and your choice of one or more fruits.

Smoothies of Costa Rica

One of the most popular drinks in Costa Rica are smoothies. As in many other tropical countries, smoothies are very popular in Costa Rica. Smoothies can be made from any fruit; just add water or milk and sweetener to taste. The most common fruits are: blackberry, pineapple, banana, papaya, soursop, strawberry, melon, watermelon, cas, tamarind and to a lesser extent chan, pithaya, mixed fruits, passion fruit. Not to mention the more fashionable smoothies such as pineapple with basil, lemonade with mint, and mixtures with vegetables, seeds or roots such as spinach, flaxseed or ginger. With the North American influence, more and more Ticos are using the word “smoothie” to designate the “batido”. In some bars and restaurants, pulp concentrates are used, but there is nothing that compares to the real taste of a freshly made smoothie with fresh fruit.

Other beverages from Costa Rica

The Agua Dulce

Although Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, there is another hot beverage that is less common but is part of the tradition. It is called Agua Dulce. This hot drink is made by boiling water or heating milk and adding a piece of dulce de leche, which is made from a liquid extracted from sugar cane that has been heated and placed in a mold to harden. It is essentially found in cold places in the mountains surrounding the Central Valley.

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Smothies- photo: la Voz de Guanacaste

The Agua de Sapo

Agua de Sapo is a cold and refreshing drink found mostly in the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. This sweet drink is made with candy cap, lemon juice and ginger.

The Resbaladera

Resbaladera is a cold and creamy drink traditionally made in the Puntarenas or northern region. Resbaladera is made with rice, barley, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, water, milk and nutmeg.