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Drinks and Drinking

A very famous region for wine cultivating is the Pisco-Nasca area. The more expensive vintages can compare favorably against their Chilean peers.

Beer is great, a bit stronger than American brands, but less full bodied than their European counterparts. Most of peruvian beers are made by either Backus, who produces the Cristal, Pilsen and Cusqueña brands among others, and Ambev which produces mainly Brahma. Go ahead, don't be shy to try them all ;)

Inca Kola would be the peruvian equivalent to Coca Cola in the rest of the world. Because of it's uncanny success, the Coca Cola company decided to buy them out, however it still retains it's unique flavor and taste. It is bright yellow, and tasted a bit like bubble gum.

Pisco Sour is peruvians alcoholic drink of excellence. It is present at high profile political and diplomatic dinners and events, as well as in most restaurants and night clubs. This drink has a very interesting ingredients list, such as egg whites, and is quite popular all over Peru. It is made from Pisco, a kind of brandy that is worth a try; it is a strong drink as pisco is 30° to 40° (around 70 to 80 proof) spirit, however the sweet taste can deceive your senses.

Emoliente is another popular drink in Peru. It may often be found in street vendors for 50 centimos (around 16 US cents). Served hot, one can describe it as a sort of thick, viscuous tea, which is surprisingly refreshing, depending of course on what herb and fruit extracts you decide to put in it. If you remain quiet, the vendor will mix you a good batch, but you can decide also which ingredients to put into it. It is normally sold hot, and it's specially popular as an after-party drink, however it can be taken cold as well.

Chicha is a very cheap, traditional alcoholic drink made from fermented corn, and has quite a high alcohol content considering it's a non-distilled beverage. You normally won't find these at formal restaurants, and it's also quite uncommon in Lima. Those places that actually sell chicha display a long stick with a brightly-colored plastic bag on it outside their door.

Chicha morada is not the same as Chicha. It is a soft drink made from boiled purple corn, with sugar and spices added (not a soda). Quite refreshing and tasteful, it can be found easily and is very recommendable. Most cuisine restaurants will have some fresh supply as part of their menu. You can also find them at street vendors or diners, but be careful where you buy it, as their water supply may be contaminated. There's also bottled or canned chicha morada, made mostly from concentrates, but it's not quite as pleasant as freshly-boiled chicha.

Mate de Coca, or Coca Tea is made from the leaves of the coca plant. It is quite legal to drink this tea in Peru, for it's not a drug at all. It can be great to help you adjust to the altitude, or as a digestive after a heavy meal. It may be found cold, but it's normally served hot.