Aguapanela, '' agua de

panela Panela () or rapadura (Portuguese pronunciation: ) is an unrefined whole cane sugar, typical of Central and Latin America. It is a solid form of sucrose derived from the boiling and evaporation of sugarcane juice. Panela is known by other na ...

'' or ''agüepanela'' is a drink commonly found throughout South America and a few parts of Central America and Caribbean. Its literal translation means "panela water" as it is an infusion made from

which is derived from hardened

sugar cane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, perennial grass (in the genus '' Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fibrous stalk ...

juice. Though recipe variations exist throughout South America, it is most popular in Colombia. In Colombia, it is commonly drunk with a hint of lemon, much the way tea is consumed.

Preparation

Aguapanela is made by adding pieces of

to water and stirring until the pieces are entirely dissolved. The drink may be served hot or cold, with

lemon The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...

lime Lime commonly refers to: * Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit * Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide * Lime (color), a color between yellow and green Lime may also refer to: Botany ...

often being added. In the hot form, sometimes milk or a chunk of cheese is added in place of fruit juice. In Colombia, black coffee is often prepared with aguapanela instead of water and sugar. In Costa Rica, panela is combined with hot water or milk to make ''agua dulce'' ("sweet water"), a common breakfast drink.

Uses

Many claims have been made about the beneficial effects of aguapanela, based on beliefs such as having more

vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...

than orange juice or as many rehydrating minerals as Gatorade. Popular belief also considers it a helpful drink for the treatment of

colds The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposu ...

. However, much like softdrinks, it is almost exclusively just sugar water. Today, aguapanela has gone from being a blue-collar drink to one that can be found in upscale café boutiques in Colombia as a tea. Canelazo is an alcoholic version of aguapanela with cinnamon and

aguardiente ( Spanish), or ( Portuguese) ( eu, pattar; ca, aiguardent; gl, augardente), is a generic term for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV). It originates in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and in ...

added to it. Sugar is rubbed on the edges of the glass when served.

References

{{reflist Non-alcoholic drinks Colombian cuisine Latin American cuisine

Preparation

Uses

See also

References