Breakfast in Guatemala: Beverages (First Part)

Beverages

Juices: there are quite a lot of fruits in Guatemala as I mentioned at the 3rd. part of this tale, but the real custom is to drink orange juice at breakfast… and actually it supposed to be better to drink it with an empty stomach, but usually people drink it while eating whatever they have for breakfast. Also some people have the custom to drink grapefruit with an empty stomach at breakfast, it supposed to help to lose weight. At restaurants is common to find also juices of other fruits like papaya, carrot, pineapple or watermelon.

There´s a custom that I really can´t explain how it started, why or where it comes from. The custom is drinking the orange juice with a raw egg inside. This is not so common and I haven´t ever try it, but I can remember my father, when I was a child, drinking it. He said you shouldn´t break the yolk while swallowing it (the reason is for not tasting it´s savor). I also can remember street stalls just selling this and just at the mornings for giving the people going to work in a hurry the chance to have a quick breakfast. Ah! Yes! This means to be the only thing to have for breakfast. I haven´t seen this in any other place and I had been searching in internet but I haven´t found anything, so, maybe this exists just in Guatemala.



Shakes: well, it´s logical! If you think about the quantity of fruits you can find in Guatemala, definitely there are a lot of ways to take them and shakes are one of the most appreciated options! :) It´s just about taking a fruit (or a mix of several), put it at the blender, add water, milk or ice cream, add sugar if you want or syrup… and voila! :D In Guatemala you can find shakes almost in all restaurants and cafeterias, but there are also places specialized in shakes. (I miss it so much!)



Milk: for taking cereals, to mix with coffee or just to drink it alone. There are a lot of things you can add to the milk, starting with a lot of kinds of cocoa, strawberry and vanilla. Brands like Nesquik, give a big range of possibilities. One of the favorites in Guatemala is Milo, that I should confess to eat a table spoon of granulated Milo was one of my vicious time ago… nice times! ;)

You also can find goat milk… but not at supermarkets, no, there are still shepherds walking with the goats at the streets offering fresh milk. It means: you drink it natural, without pasteurizing it. Not exactly so common for breakfast but I thought it would be interesting to mention it here ;)




Coffee: Guatemala is a coffee producer country, so, what you find there is first class coffee quality. We have American costumes to drink it, so, it´s softer than the one you drink in Europe, but in specialized places you can find that taste as well. The coffee we drink is soft, then we can drink it, and we do, several times during the day. It´s normal to drink 2 or 3 cups while eating your breakfast. One strong difference I found comparing Guatemala and Spain costumes while drinking coffee, is that we drink it at the same time we are eating. In the breakfast case, I mean, you drink your orange juice (if you have it) and once finished it, you start to drink coffee while eating your eggs, hot cakes or whatever you have for breakfast. If it´s at lunch, you drink the coffee while eating your dessert (in case you have it, of course). At home is common to drink just coffee or coffee with milk, but at restaurants and cafeterias, you have all the international options you would desire. My very favorite one: cappuccino with amaretto. :D The second one: mocha!



Tortilla´s coffee: actually this beverage isn´t common at the city neither at restaurants. It´s an indigenous drink made with the powder of burnt tortillas.

Tea: you can find in Guatemala quite a lot of options of good tea, but also we have custom to make natural herbal teas and here every home has it´s own good recipes! :) One of my favorites: normal black tea, a bit of stick cinnamon, a bit of clove and a bit of peel of orange. Mmmmmm!!!

Chocolate: the normal one for use at home is quite artisanal made, here a video of how it is:



You put part of the tablets in boiling water and then you have it! :) The consistence, comparing with Spanish one, is quite liquid. Of course you can take it with milk or/and marshmallows if you want. You also can find European style chocolate for drink, for make it at home or at cafeterias.



Another video of artisanal chocolate:



Punch: this is a hot beverage typical for cold days. The most common are the fruits and the eggs (egg nogh, that btw is for drinking cold) ones.



How to make egg nogh:



(To be continued)