Drinks of Peru

Inka Cola

There are only three letters that adequately describe one's first encounter with Inka Cola: W, T, and F. This benign yellow liquid is an unexpected assault, a mish mash of cream soda supersaturated with bubble gum and cotton candy on crack. The sheer volume of sugar is impressive, along the lines of being stirred in while boiling like real southern sweet tea to make it fit. All the drama of a Latina soap opera crammed into the confines of one innocuous plastic bottle.

Cuzquena Beer

China has its Tsingtao, Colorado has its Coors, and Cuzco has Cusquena. A smooth standard beer, Cusquena sips smooth and tastes like a few drops of Dos Equis mixed into a bottle of Chang
.

Chicha Morada

Purple is my favorite color so purple corn juice wasn't much of a stretch. This stuff of the Andes is a thick, blended pulp, a literal corn syrup with cinnamon and cloves, like a better-tasting precursor to Pepsi.

Pisco Sour

Many a friendship is forged over a first drink, and the first drink in Peru should always be the Pisco Sour. This one is a deceptively strong combination of 60-70 proof pisco with lime and a frothy egg white foam. Even if you don't like it at first, a few sips will have you embracing it... And probably everyone around you... With open arms.

The Pisco Sour isn’t for everybody…well actually it kind of IS for everybody who goes to Peru. And if you’re really not lovin’ the lime, at least try to get passionate about the passion fruit and try the one with Maracuya.