Originating from the mountainous regions of Peru, Chicha Morada is a traditional alcohol-free beverage crafted from purple corn, pineapple peel, cinnamon and cloves.
Chicha Morada is more popular than Coca-Cola in Peru! While you can find it bottled, powdered, or in gel form, nothing beats the homemade version. Plus, it’s super easy to make: simmer purple corn with apple, pineapple skin, cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of sugar for this refreshing Peruvian elixir.
The most challenging part may be sourcing dry purple corn (maíz morado), typically found at your local Latino market. If unavailable locally, you can likely find it online, ensuring it’s from Peru, as they have the unique, entirely purple cob. Particularly favoured among children, there’s also an adult version called Chicha de Jora, which includes alcohol, offering a different twist for the grown-ups.
Origin of Chicha Morada
This purple drink is famous all over the Andes, meaning Bolivians, Ecuadorians and Chileans are also big fans! Some say it comes straight from the pre-Incas, back 2500 years ago. However, the first written record of the drink was made by a French explorer in 1870. The original drink was made just of purple corn. In modern times, some ingredients have made their way there: pineapple peel, apples, lemon, quince on the fruit side, and cinnamon and cloves on the spice level. These types of purple corn cobs grow at an altitude of 3,000 m, making it almost impossible to cultivate elsewhere.
Beneficial Juice
Studies were conducted on the health benefits of purple corn at a Japanese university, proving that purple vegetables help prevent colon cancer, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and are excellent antioxidants. You can read all about it here. Many studies claim it’s also anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammation, helps enhance memory and much more.
*Shout-out to my Bolivian friend Herminia for hooking me up with dried purple corn and the insider secrets of Chicha Morada! Now, I can spill the (purple) tea and share this magical drink with you all!
Variations
The choice of fruits for the cooking process is entirely at your discretion, allowing you to tailor the flavours to your preferences. You can include or omit other ingredients besides the essential purple corn, cinnamon, and cloves. The sweetness level is also adjustable, depending on your taste. Five tablespoons of sugar proved perfect in my preparation, but some prefer it without sugar or opt for just a tablespoon or two of honey for an ultra-healthy twist. This versatility makes Chicha Morada a highly adaptable and customizable beverage, catering to various tastes and dietary choices.
Other Alcohol-Free Drinks
- Simple Watermelon Punch for Kids
- Fresh Tamarind Iced Tea
- Tropical Brazilian Lemonade (Limanada Suica)
Chicha Morada
Ingredients
- 2.5 l water
- 2 purple corn
- 5 tbsp sugar (or honey)
- 3 slices of apple
- 12 cloves
- 1 cinnamon sticks
- 1 slice of a pineapple peel
- 1 lime
- salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to the water and let simmer for 45 minutes.
- Strain and collect all the juice, pass it through a fine-meshed strainer and cool it down for 10 minutes before adding it to the refrigerator.
- Add the squeeze of a lime or lemon.
- Let it cool for a minimum of two hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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12 Comments
This is very interesting drink. The purple corn is sn interesting ingredient. The color of the drink reminds me of my Jamaican Sorrel drink that is mainly served during the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing the history and recipe of Chicha Morada.
My pleasure! Love to discover new taste too!
I’ve never heard of this drink before! It looks absolutely delicious. I’ll keep a look out for purple corn, and when I do, I’ll be sure to make your recipe!
Yes, you won’t regret try this!
What an interesting beverage that sounds amazing. I had no idea purple corn was available. Thank you for the recipe!
Next time you see a Latino market, stop by and crab some dry ones! Life changing!
I love this drink. It is unique, based out of a particular culture and the variations of this juice is awesome. Thanks for this wonderful recipe!
My pleasure to be able to share some of my own discoveries!
Wow, I love this! it sounds delicious. I have never heard of purple corn, didn’t even know it existed. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Hopefully next time you see a Latino Market you go in and try the Chicha Morada!
Superb article and valuable information because it’s helpful for me. They are really so amazing article shared!
Thanks for talking the time to read them.