Chicha Morada: Exploring The Rich History Of Purple Corn Drink
The word “Chicha” is used to describe a large variety of traditional, tribal fermented drinks that are highly consumed across the Andean region in South America. It is made from different plants, particularly maize. The origin of this word came from the native Panamanian word “Chicha” which denotes maize. It is studied that Chicha has been used in the Andean region for more than a thousand years. It is an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage that is made from corn.
You may have heard about this drink for the first time but do not need to worry we are going to describe everything about chicha Morada.
History of Chicha Morada:
The history and consumption of Chicha Morada were already very broad in ancient times before the formulation of the Inca Empire. 2500 years ago, the domestic cultures of Peru had managed to cultivate purple corn. The people of Peru considered it sacred. Later on, they made a purple corn drink from it. The geographical extension of the empire of the Incas also allowed an increase in the consumption and cultivation of Chicha all over the Andean region. At that time Chichas were not only created from corn but people used to add different plants to make this drink like oca, cassava, and quinoa. But the spread of the empire of the Inca has made it possible to adopt the pre-Inca civilizations over the empire. Therefore, they started the cultivation of Chichas as per their own traditions and cultural values.
The consumption of Chicha was kept safe during colonial times till now. The method of its preparation has also been protected in principle since its origin, with some moderation over the course of time conditional to the Andean location. And they remained this purple corn drink in its original form. During that time, the places where Chichas used to be prepared and sold were called “Chicherias”. And people of that time used to gather at traditional places to talk about their daily activities while eating or drinking Chicha. These places were called “Picanterias”. Currently, a few restaurants are also following the tradition of picanterias in specific regions of Peru.
Vibrant culture of Chicha Morada:
For the people of the Inca, corn was treated as a holy gift to humanity. They used to consider that drinking Chicha, which is made from Corn enables them to communicate between God, the Incas, and their ancestors. People of Peru still serve this drink in their ceremonies or at tribal events to show their respect for their traditional and cultural values. There is a story told by an Incan that during a political meeting when a glass of Chicha Morada was served to the Spanish Dominican as a gesture of goddess. The priest thought that they were giving him poison. He threw away the glass of their traditional drink as he was unaware of their tradition. This act of the priest ruined the relationship between him and the ruler of the Inca.
The current consumption of this purple corn drink is as high as the consumption of Coca-Cola in other countries of America. You can find Chicha even in the streets of Peru on stands. They made it in big tubs and sold it in oversized glass. It is a tradition in Peru, that before taking the first sip of Chicha you have to spill your first sip on the ground to convey your offerings to Mother Earth.
Types of chicha:
Chicha has two types named Chicha Morada and Chicha de Jora. They are classified on the basis of their colors, flavors, and preparation.
1. Chicha Morada:
Chicha morada is a purple corn drink that is made from maiz morado. It is a non-alcoholic beverage. It may sound weird to some people the idea of drinking corn juice. But chicha morada is very tasty and rich in flavor. It can be taken for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This drink is made by boiling purple corn in a pot along with other fruits like pineapple, strawberries, cinnamon, and cloves. Its secret ingredient is lemon which enhances its flavor, we can add lemon as per our likeness. Chicha morada also has a lot of benefits. It is a favorite drink of Peruvians, you can easily find it in every grocery store. As it is a non-alcoholic drink it is equally favorite among children and adults.
2. Chicha de Jora:
Chicha de Jora is an alcoholic drink that is made from maize. It has different colors, it all depends on the type of maize that is used for its processing. The term “Jora” means the use of completely grown corn that is used as a raw material in the preparation of Chicha. This drink contains at least 3% alcohol. Every region has its own recipe for the preparation of Chicha de Jora. It can be served in a sweet flavor or strong. This drink is mostly pale yellow in color and it has a topping of cream over it. If you ever visit Peru, you must try this amazing drink. You can also make it at home and it can also be found at any store in Peru.
How to make Chicha Morada:
The recipe for the making of Chicha Morada is so simple, you can easily make it at your home. So, let’s start first with the ingredients which are needed for its preparation.
- 2lbs of purple corn
- 4 liters of water
- 1 juicy and tender pineapple
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 apples
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 7 small cloves
- 4 lemons
Steps for Preparation:
It can be prepared easily by following these simple steps:
- First, you need to wash the pineapple and apples, then peel them.
- Add three liters of water in a saucepan, then add the pineapple, apples, and also their peels. After that add purple corn, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Now, turn the heat to a high flame and cover it with a lid until it starts boiling.
- When the water starts to boil, turn the heat to low and then cooking for 50 more minutes.
- Strain the liquid and put it aside.
- Now, add a liter of water to the saucepan and add fruit peels and purple corn. Boil it on high heat then again cook for 45 minutes.
- After this strain, the mixture and now mix it with the mixture previously made.
- Then, store it in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Cut the apple and pineapples into small pieces.
- Add the lemon juice when it is completely cold.
- Add the fruit pieces while serving the drink.
That’s how you can make this purple corn drink.
Ways to consume Chicha Morada:
Chicha morada can be consumed in three ways. We can consume it in the following three ways:
- We can have chicha morada by preparing it with a traditional homemade recipe. The traditional recipe of boiling all the fruits and purple corn in water and adding other ingredients, then straining and after cooling it in the refrigerator you can serve it.
- In the market, packets of dry powder are available which are made of artificial flavors and sugar. The user just needs to add water to it. Consumers are using these packets in large numbers because of the low cost and because they can’t make the original recipes by themselves.
- Chicha morada is also available in the market in syrup form in packets. This syrup contains flavors of fruits and purple corn in it. The user should only need to add water in it and lemon juice as per the likeness.
- Chicha morada is also available in bottles or cans. It is available in almost every store in Peru or in Latin America.
While it’s true, fans claim that only homemade chicha morada’s flavor is original and tasty among all others.
Health benefits of Chicha Morada:
There are many health benefits associated with Chicha Morada. The main ingredient of chicha morada is maize morada which is very beneficial for human health. Purple corn has a powerful antioxidant effect. They help the tissues in regeneration and they regulate the blood flow. It also lowers the cholesterol level in our bodies.
This purple corn drink also helps in the speedy formation of collagen and it reduces the risk of arthritis and diabetes. It also helps in preventing different types of cancer. It has powerful anti-obesity capabilities.
Final Thoughts:
Chicha morada is a purple corn drink. It originated from Peru, a country in South America. It has a history associated with the ancient Anden region. It has high cultural and religious value for the people of Peru. They also want others to value this same. It is a refreshing drink with fruity flavors. It also has a touch of cinnamon and cloves with lime which enhances its flavor.
It has many health benefits as well. It has powerful antioxidant capabilities and other benefits also. Thousands of people are earning their bread and butter in Peru by selling Chicha morada in different stores or on the streets. When you visit Peru, you must have this refreshing drink for once at least.
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