Thanksgiving Day is the perfect excuse to get together with family and friends and catch up on everything that’s been happening in their lives.
What better way to do it than over a delicious home-cooked meal? But if you’re unfamiliar with Puerto Rican cuisine, you may wonder what Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks pair best with your feast!
But not to worry. We are always here as your backup. We’ve got you covered with this list of Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drinks you can whip up in no time!
1. Malta
The Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks include Malta, a Puerto Rican favorite. It is a mixed drink that includes beer, rum, cola or ginger ale, and lime juice. The most popular brands of cola in Puerto Rico are Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Meanwhile, a tip for making your Malta is to mix the beer with the cola first. Then, add the other ingredients, which only foam up a little.
2. OK Cola
OK Cola is a Puerto Rican soda that has been around for over 80 years. It was first introduced in 1937 and became popular among the people of Puerto Rico because of its unique taste.
OK Cola, one of the well-known Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks, is sweetened with cane sugar and has a hint of vanilla flavor.
Some other flavors you can find are cola, lemon-lime, pineapple, orange, grapefruit, and raspberry.
3. Ron del Barrilito
Another popular one on the list of Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks is Ron de Barrilito. It is a dark rum served on ice with pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and cinnamon.
Ron del Barrilito is a Puerto Rican rum that has been distilled and aged up to fifteen years. Coupled with that, it has a very light flavor and is perfect for those who are just starting to explore the world of rums.
Or those who don’t want anything too strong on their taste buds. Ron del Barrilito was introduced in 1887 and named after the company founder’s son, Luis Alonzo del Barrilito.
This Puerto Rican drink can be used as an after-dinner drink or as a way to get your guests out onto the dance floor!
4. Puerto Rican Sangría
Puerto Rican Sangria is one of the most delicious and easy Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drinks. Sangria is Spanish for blood, and the original recipe was made with wine, brandy, fruit juices, and sliced fruit.
Further, this traditional recipe can be modified by adding additional ingredients like pineapple juice or rum. If you want something different this year, try our Puerto Rico Sangria!
5. Coffee and Cheese
Coffee and Cheese are on our list of delectable Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drinks. It is a classic Puerto Rican drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the year.
To prepare it, take a large pot and pour in an entire gallon of milk. Add one can of sweetened condensed milk and one teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Next, bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat, constantly stirring until it thickens. After, remove from heat and let cool for five minutes before adding strong brewed coffee and sugar into the mixture.
Stir well until sugar dissolves, and then pour into mugs or cups. Finally, top with whipped cream if desired.
6. Horchata de Ajonjolí
Horchata de Ajonjolí is equally one of the best choices for Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drinks. The beverage is made with rice, water, sugar, and cinnamon.
The horchata is then blended until it becomes a creamy consistency. This traditional drink can be found in most grocery stores and Latin markets.
Surging, Horchata de Ajonjolí was first introduced by Jesuit missionaries to the Spanish colonies in the Americas in the 16th century. It has since become a staple food in many Latin American countries.
This includes Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Puerto Rico, as well as Spain’s Canary Islands.
7. Chichaíto de Coco
The Chichaíto de Coco is a Puerto Rican drink that is made with water, coconuts, and brown sugar. It’s a refreshing drink that has been popular on the island for years.
One of the best parts about this drink is that it can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Also, it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for something non-alcoholic to serve your guests because it’s free of any alcohol content.
This will make all of your kids happy since they can enjoy this beverage too! Want to know more about Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks? Read further!
8. Chi chi
The pineapple juice and coconut cream used to make the chi chi are the same as those used to make a pia colada. The distinction is that vodka is used in chi chi instead of rum.
Typically, the cocktail is served in a wine glass with a wedge of pineapple on top by locals. It’s a fantastic alternative for individuals who favor vodka over rum. This is one of the Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks that refresh your palate well!
9. Chichaíto de Coco
Chichaíto de Coco is a festive and celebratory drink that is traditionally served during the Puerto Rican Christmas holiday.
The drink is made by mixing water, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cranberry juice in a pot and cooking until the mixture boils.
Once boiled, the mixture will be put in the refrigerator overnight to get cold. The next day, chichaíto de coco will be served with ice cubes.
Chichaíto de coco, one of the tasty Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks, is often served alongside sweet buns or asopao (Puerto Rican rice dish) for breakfast.
10. Mavi
From our Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks list, Mavi is a traditional one made with water, apple cider vinegar, honey, and ginger.
It’s a natural blood sugar balancer and energizer that can be the perfect pick-me-up if you’re feeling sluggish after all that turkey.
To make Mavi, add honey, apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger, and water in a pot. Next, bring it to a boil, turn it off, and let it cool for about five minutes before drinking.
11. Frappe
A frappe is a traditional Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drink with a coffee base combined with milk, sugar, and vanilla.
The mixture is poured into a glass and topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder. Proceeding, the word frappe comes from the French word frappé, which means shaking.
This, in turn, comes from the verb frapper, which means to strike or punch. It likely refers to the fact that when you shake the ingredients together, they create bubbles in the form of foam on top of the drink.
If you’re looking for a festive drink this holiday season, I recommend whipping up some Puerto Rican frappes!
12. Cuba Libre
Thinking about the best Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks to serve? Cuba Libre is a popular Puerto Rican drink, thus, a very great option. It is made with rum, cola, and lime juice.
The name Cuba Libre means Free Cuba in Spanish. It is a drink that was invented by an American army officer named Captain Russell.
During the Cuban War of Independence in 1898, he mixed Coca-Cola and Bacardi rum together for his soldiers who were fighting there. Nowadays, it’s a popular cocktail among young people.
13. Bil
You’ve probably heard of pitorro, coquito, and Mavi. However, are you familiar with Bil? It is not left from the list of various Puerto Rican Thanksgiving drinks.
Furthermore, this artisanal beverage, called bil, is typically found in Culebra and Vieques. It is matured for a month in a dark spot using rum, quenepas, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
Exploring the municipality islands promises a unique experience because of Bil tasting.
14. Mojitos
Mojitos are a popular drink in Puerto Rico, specifically used as a celebratory drink. When drinking a mojito, the spicy taste will lighten the typically heavy and savory dishes of Thanksgiving.
The mint leaves and lime juice in the mojito will also help freshen your breath after consuming all of that turkey and stuffing.
Plus, when making this drink, you can make it personalized by adding some rum or adding cinnamon. In fact, you can add nutmeg, too (which is typically used in traditional Puerto Rican dishes), giving it a more festive feel.
All in all, this will make you savor all the nourishment this drink offers on the Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks list!
As known, Mojitos are one of the most popular Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks, and they’re a great way to spice up your dinner. If you’re hosting a turkey meal this year, consider whipping up some mojitos for your guests.
Here’s how:
- Add ice cubes and sugar (or honey) to a blender and sit for five minutes.
- Pour white rum into the blender, then add limes and some mint leaves from the stem.
- Next, pour enough club soda or water until it reaches the halfway mark on the jar.
- Hit blend again until all ingredients are well combined, then pour into tall glasses with ice cubes on top.
15. Don Q
Don Q is another well-known Puerto Rican brand that you should try if you adore rum. This rum, which rules the neighborhood market, is made from molasses, mash, water, and yeast. Then, it is matured in barrels made of American white oak.
Don Q’s amber rum is one of the rums used to make a Cuba Libre, created with Coca-Cola and freshly squeezed lime.
Additionally, locals enjoy mixing DonQ with cranberry juice. So if you aren’t willing to disappoint your guests, Don Q is one of those Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks that’ll guarantee their satisfaction!
16. Guarapo
In several cocktails from Puerto Rico, sugar cane serves as the foundation. The most fundamental, though, is known as guarapo and is immensely popular in Latin America.
On our list of amazing Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks is this Guarapo. It is merely sugarcane water.
However, some Puerto Ricans prefer to add lime juice to theirs. This drink is available at food stands along the side of the road if you have a sweet tooth.
17. Medalla Light Beer
As we are coming to the end of this list of Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks, Medalla light beer isn’t excluded. If you enjoy sampling regional beers when traveling, consider trying Medalla Light in Puerto Rico.
Moreover, Medalla is a 4% alcohol lager-style beer. Malted barley and hops are among the organic ingredients used in their preparation. Typically, residents like beer and food together.
18. Pitorro
One of the most popular Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks is Pitorro. This drink is made from fermented sugar cane, and it’s similar to moonshine because it’s distilled.
The most common way to drink Pitorro is mixed with orange juice, pineapple juice, or grapefruit juice.
Meanwhile, there are many variations on this recipe as well. Some people will mix it with water (to dilute the alcohol content), and some will add more sugar cane for a stronger flavor.
Other recipes call for adding lime or lemon juice or even adding a second type of fruit juice like apple or banana.
19. Coquito
Last but not least, the Puerto Rican thanksgiving drink is the Coquito. This traditional Puerto Rican drink is enjoyed during Christmas, Easter, and other holidays. Coquito is typically made with coconut milk, sugar, and rum.
However, many variations exist using different types of alcohol, such as white or spiced rum. If you’re hosting a Puerto Rican-inspired Thanksgiving this year, try adding some coquito to the menu!
Conclusion
Having trouble figuring out what to drink with your Thanksgiving dinner this year? Why not mix it up by trying some Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks?
Besides, this list of Puerto Rican thanksgiving drinks will help you find something unique that will liven up your meal. And this is without overshadowing the holiday’s traditional favorites! Check out these Puerto Rican Thanksgiving foods.
