Aguapanela con Limón (Panela Lemonade, Hot or Cold)
In short: A simple Colombian drink of unrefined cane sugar dissolved in water with lime juice, served hot on cold days or over ice in the heat. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 115 kcal
Aguapanela is the everyday drink of Colombian homes, made by dissolving panela, a block of unrefined cane sugar, in water. Served hot, it warms people in the mountains and goes with cheese and bread at breakfast. Chilled with lime juice and ice, it becomes a refreshing limonada de panela. The flavor is a mild caramel, deeper than plain sugar.
Instructions
- Put the water and chopped panela in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring, for 6 to 8 minutes, until the panela dissolves completely.
- Skim off any foam or impurities from the surface and remove the pan from the heat.
- For a hot drink, stir in the lime juice and pour into mugs.
- For a cold drink, let the panela water cool for 30 minutes, stir in the lime juice and chill for at least 1 hour. Serve over ice with lime slices.
Tips
- Taste after dissolving. Panela varies in sweetness, so adjust with more water or lime. A slice of fresh ginger or a cinnamon stick simmered in the water adds warmth.
- No panela? Use the same weight of piloncillo, sold in Mexican shops, or dark brown sugar with 1 teaspoon of molasses.
Questions and answers
What is panela?
Panela is unrefined cane sugar, made by boiling down sugarcane juice and pouring it into molds. It tastes of caramel and molasses and is sold in hard blocks.
Can I make aguapanela ahead of time?
Yes. The cold version keeps for 4 days in the fridge. Add the lime juice just before serving for the freshest flavor.
Is aguapanela healthier than sugar water?
Panela keeps trace minerals that white sugar loses, but nutritionally it is still mostly sugar. Treat it as a sweet drink.
How long does it take to make Aguapanela con Limón (Panela Lemonade, Hot or Cold)?
About 15 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Aguapanela con Limón (Panela Lemonade, Hot or Cold)?
About 115 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 115 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
