Getting The Party Started: 3 Alcoholic Mexican Drinks To Try During Cinco De Mayo
There's no better time to party than on Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, which is a day dedicated to commemorating the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Local Mexican restaurants may offer unique dishes and drinks that are otherwise absent from their menu. On top of trying delicious new dishes, you should celebrate by ordering these 3 special alcoholic drinks that are difficult to find anywhere else.
The Spiciness of Michelada
If you're a beer lover, you'll definitely want to order a cup of Michelada. This beverage is one of the most popular drinks in Mexico, and is basically a beer-based cocktail with lime, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and tomato sauce mixed in. The glass is usually rimmed with salt, chile, and even ground up maguey for that extra kick. Generally speaking, Michelada is made from a nice, dark beer rather than a light one. This beverage can be paired with just about any type of Mexican dish. In fact, it'll go nicely with some tacos or even a burrito.
Be careful if you order Michelada because it is really easy to down an entire glass of this within seconds. Before long, you'll have ordered more than enough to get your buzz going.
The Sweet Goodness of Tejuino
Those who are always on the lookout for a nice sweet cocktail will love Tejuino. Tejuino is essentially fermented corn masa mixed with piloncillo, an unrefined sugar. Most of the time, this beverage is served over ice with a pinch of salt or a squeeze of lime, which further enhances the flavor of this beverage. This alcoholic beverage has a unique sweet flavor to it that is similar to honey or molasses. Due to the sweetness of this cocktail, Tejuino is a beverage that will go well with just about any type of Mexican dish. The sweetness of the Tejuino complements the spices in Mexican dishes very well.
This alcoholic beverage has very little alcohol in it, which makes it very appealing to casual drinkers or those who like to avoid strong alcohol. In fact, it has so little alcohol that some Mexican families even allow their kids to grab a cup or two during dinner.
The Pineapple Goodness of Tepache
While most Americans typically throw away the the pineapple core and peels, Mexicans make a wonderfully delicious alcoholic beverage known as Tepache. The pineapple core and peels are mixed in with piloncillo, a dash of cinnamon and filtered water and allowed to ferment for a few days. The cinnamon will enhance the flavor of this beverage. Some restaurants and people even add beer or a shot of strong alcohol, like vodka, gin or tequila. If you add beer or more alcohol into the Tepache, you will find that the beverage will become less sweet. It's difficult to describe the flavor of this drink. It encompasses the fruity taste of pineapples mixed in with some spices.
Depending on how long the pineapple core and peels were left to ferment and whether any additional alcohol was added, the alcoholic content of this drink usually tends to be quite low. As a result, those who order this beverage at their local Mexican restaurant will usually be sober enough to drive home afterwards.
Conclusion
Many Mexican restaurants in the U.S. will offer unique dishes and tasting menus in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. While you're trying out all of the traditional dishes that Mexican restaurants near Tucson AZ have to offer, don't forget to take a quick peek at the alcohol menu and try some of these unique beverages with your meal.