Coquito () is a traditional Christmas drink that originated in
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
. The coconut-based
alcoholic beverage
Drinks containing alcohol (drug), alcohol are typically divided into three classes—beers, wines, and Distilled beverage, spirits—with alcohol content typically between 3% and 50%. Drinks with less than 0.5% are sometimes considered Non-al ...
is similar to
eggnog
Eggnog (), historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, added sugar, sweetened, dairy-based sweetened beverage, beverage traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolk ...
, and is sometimes referred to as Puerto Rican eggnog. The mixed drink is made with Puerto Rican
rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
,
coconut milk
Coconut milk is a plant milk extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of the milky-white liquid are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food ingred ...
,
cream of coconut,
sweetened condensed milk
Condensed milk is cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of sweetened condensed milk, to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condensed milk" are o ...
, vanilla, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon.
History
Coquito was originally made in
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
, and drinks similar to coquito are found throughout
the Caribbean
The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America to the west, a ...
.
The drink was inspired by British and American eggnogs, but the Spanish made their own version of eggnog and combined it with coconut milk and local rum, creating coquito. Although milk and sugar were its basic ingredients, Puerto Ricans altered it by adding coconut.
The recipe has five main ingredients but is not limited to these:
* Evaporated milk
* Coconut milk
* Coconut cream
* Puerto Rican rum
* Sweetened condensed milk.
The Puerto Rican version resembles eggnog and is usually served after dinner in a
shot glass
A shot glass is a glass originally designed to hold or measure spirits or liquor, which is either imbibed straight from the glass ("a shot") or poured into a cocktail ("a drink"). An alcoholic beverage served in a shot glass and typically consu ...
. Some prepare the drink with eggs. The drink is known to be sweet and strong, with a generous amount of rum.
Many families have their own variations of the recipe, and these are passed down through generations.
The drink can be made as early as Thanksgiving and as late as . That being said, the drink makes its main appearance during the
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
season.
Coquito has become much more popular recently. Some supermarkets and grocery stores sell pre-made bottles of coquito. There are also competitions like ''Coquito Masters,'' an annual event held at the
Museo del Barrio in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
.
American TV hosts and journalists have helped to publicize the drink. Talk show host
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an Americans, American comedian, television host, actor, singer, writer, and producer. Best known for his work in television, Fallon's breakthrough came during his tenure as a cast member on the ...
is reportedly a fan, and has mentioned the drink occasionally in episodes of ''
The Tonight Show
''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...
''.
David Begnaud
David Begnaud (born June 13, 1983) is an American journalist and news correspondent. Begnaud works for CBS News, and is currently based in Los Angeles as the Lead National Correspondent for CBS Mornings. His reporting has been featured across CBS ...
, regularly associated with Puerto Rico since his coverage of
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that affected the northeastern Caribbean in September 2017, particularly in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which accounted for 2,975 of the 3,059 deaths. It is the ...
and other events on the island, famously served the hosts and staff of ''
CBS This Morning
''CBS This Morning'' (''CTM'') is an American morning television program that aired on CBS from November 30, 1987 to October 29, 1999, and again from January 9, 2012 to September 6, 2021. On November 1, 1999, the original incarnation was repla ...
'' with several bottles of coquito on the show's 2021 New Year's Eve broadcast.
Variations
There are many variations of coquito, all based on their location and family traditions.
Although all these variations are unique in their own way, they often have one thing in common, and generally that is rum. Some people prefer to make it with another alcohol, such as
Spanish liqueur 43, or add
bitters
A bitters (plural also ''bitters'') is traditionally an Alcoholic drink, alcoholic preparation flavored with botanical matter for a Bitterness (taste), bitter or bittersweet Flavoring, flavor. Originally, numerous longstanding brands of bitters ...
.
Coquito has become a staple not only for Puerto Ricans but for other Caribbean and Latin communities, and all versions add a personal touch. Seed and nut milk can be added, with pistachio being the most popular. Other additions include
Nutella
Nutella ( , , ; stylized in all lowercase) is a brand of brown, sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. Nutella is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero and was introduced in 1964, although its first iteration dates to 1963.
History
Pietro ...
, coffee,
masala chai
Masala chai (; ) is a popular beverage originating from South Asia. It is made by brewing black tea (usually crush, tear, curl) in milk and water, and then by sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates masala chai.
The t ...
, fresh fruits, pumpkin, sweet potato,
prune
A prune is a dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (''Prunus domestica'') tree. Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes. Use of the term ''prune'' for fresh plums is obsolete except when applied to varieties of ...
s,
citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
''Citrus'' is nativ ...
, and
cream cheese
Cream cheese is a soft, usually mild-tasting fresh cheese made from milk and cream.Oxford English Dictionary Cream cheese is not naturally matured and is meant to be consumed fresh, so it differs from other soft cheeses such as Brie and Neuf ...
with
guava
Guava ( ), also known as the 'guava-pear', is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava '' Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), nativ ...
.
Pitorro rum, which ranges from 80 to 100 proof, is also used to make coquito. Coquito made with pittorro is served in shot glasses sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Preparation
Depending on the ingredients of choice, coquito can be prepared over the stovetop or in a blender.
Gently cooking the ingredients thickens the drink, keeps it from separating, and gives it a longer shelf life. This method usually contains eggs. Rum, vanilla, and other extracts are added after the liquid cools.
Combining all ingredients, including ground spices, in the blender—without the addition of eggs—makes a quicker version. This can also result in the drink separating after a few minutes because the fat in the coconut solidifies, causing a chunky coquito with lumps.
Coquito is then poured into glass bottles with one or two cinnamon sticks. After coquito is prepared and chilled for a few hours, it is ready to be served. However, it is best made two weeks or more in advance for fullest flavor.
Events
El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio, often known simply as El Museo (the museum), is a museum at 1230 Fifth Avenue in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is located near the northern end of Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile, immediately north of the Museum of the City ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
hosts an annual coquito tasting contest called ''Coquito Masters'' on
Three Kings Day
Epiphany ( ), also known as "Theophany" in Eastern Christian tradition, is a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana.
In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally ...
in January. The competition was first established in 2002 and continues each year.
References
External links
* {{Wikibooks inline, Bartending/Cocktails/Coquito
Christmas food
Cocktails with coconut
Cocktails with milk
Cocktails with rum
Creamy cocktails
Mixed drinks
Puerto Rican cuisine
Three-ingredient cocktails