🇵🇪 Peruvian Cuisine

Chicha Morada

Purple Corn Drink

Prep Time 10 min
Servings 8
Difficulty Easy

A deeply refreshing, jewel-toned beverage brewed from dried purple corn with pineapple, cinnamon, cloves, and lime — Peru's iconic non-alcoholic drink.

Ingredients

  • 500g dried purple corn (maíz morado)
  • 1 pineapple, peeled (use peel and flesh)
  • 1 green apple, quartered
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 cloves
  • 1 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
  • 4 tbsp lime juice
  • 3L water

Instructions

  1. 1 Combine purple corn, pineapple peel, apple, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large pot with water.
  2. 2 Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 min until liquid is deeply purple.
  3. 3 Strain into a pitcher, discarding solids.
  4. 4 Stir in sugar while still warm until dissolved.
  5. 5 Add lime juice and diced pineapple flesh. Stir well.
  6. 6 Chill thoroughly. Serve over ice.

Did You Know?

Chicha morada is so central to Peruvian identity that fast-food chains in Peru serve it instead of — or alongside — standard soft drinks.

From The Culinary Codex — http://theculinarycodex.com/dish/peruvian/chicha-morada/