What is Tepache?
Made from pineapple rinds, tepache is a well-known Mexican drink that has been a big part of street food culture throughout Mexico and parts of Central America. Much like Kombucha, tepache is also fermented and is loaded with probiotics. The big difference between the two is that tepache is fermented using the natural flavors of pineapple as its base, while kombucha is made and fermented from tea, and is activated by SCOBY.
Tepache originated from indigenous communities in central America, and most often linked to the Mayan tribes of Guatemala and Mexico. In Mexico, it is common to see this drink being sold on city streets from 30-gallon barrels and served in plastic bags with a straw inserted on the side. While it remains a popular drink in Mexico, tepache is making its way up North to the United States, where many mixologists, businesses, and nutrition conscious people (like us) are starting to learn about its many health benefits.
What are some of the health benefits of tepache?
Aside from its pleasing taste, this frizzy drink is starting to get a lot of hype related to the potential health benefits that it may have. Compared most frequently to kombucha, tepache being a fermented drink produces many probiotics that are known to promote a healthy gut bacterium. Although there are not a lot of laboratory studies related to this ancient indigenous drink, according to many sources like Shape Magazine, health benefits can include: improved digestion, reduced high cholesterol, and improved absorption of vital nutrients.
The natural ingredients and the use of natural fruits rinds like pineapple, allow this drink to have many vitamins and enzymes that our bodies need. Although it does have the potential to boost our immunity in many ways, professional dietitians also warn against drinking if a person has a sensitive condition. Because tepache has many live bacteria and is not heat treated, there is always a slight possibility of the live bacteria causing some kind of food borne illness.
Where can you find it?
If you are reading this you are probably not living somewhere in Mexico or another central American country where this drink is locally sold on the street somewhere. So you’re most likely wondering where you can find this drink. The simple and yet complicated answer is that you can always make your own! There are many recipes online, like this one, that walk. People through the simple process of brewing this drink.
However, if you’re like me, you probably want to try it first before stepping into a DIY. Thankfully, tepache has entered the food market and you can now purchase it at your local grocery store. There are probably 2-4 brands that I have seen in person, and Kevita, a well-known kombucha company, seems to have their own version of this pineapple-based drink. Although you could probably find it at your basic grocery store, your best bet is to visit an organic grocer like Whole foods, or Organic Moms Market. Which is what I did!
De La Calle Tepache
What started as a trip to the grocery store to purchase some fruits and a loaf of bread, ended with me walking down the drink aisle, where I immediately noticed these bright colored cans. They were sitting right next to the kombucha that I usually buy, and their cute exterior immediately caught my attention. Upon further inspection of the cans, I noticed some gnarly flavor combinations. Mango/chili and watermelon/jalapeno!! I needed to try this!
Made by a brand called De La Calle, which translates to “from the street”, these drinks have strong Mexican roots and have garnered a strong social presence! On Instagram, they have built a 18K plus following, where loyal drinkers will pose with their cute cans and share their thoughts on this product. Naturally, I needed to know what all the hype Is about and figure out if the drink is as good as the art.
Here is my honest review and I hope it might help you decide whether you want to try it out for yourself!
1. Cactus Prickly pear- Desierto
The initial smell has a lot of cinnamon and has a texture and gas feeling of a soda. The color is a nice clear color, much of ginger ale.
The taste is super fermented and has many under tones of cinnamon. I have honestly never tasted prickly pear so I’m not sure if it is true to its taste or where in the pallet the prickly pear comes out. The only thing that my tastebuds are familiar with was the cinnamon spice!
Upon further investigation the ingredients do confirm the addition of cinnamon extract! The more I drink, the more I enjoy the taste and the overall feel that it gives my gut. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but somehow, I’m getting a tingly warm feeling in my tummy! I guess that’s the fermentation sneaking through my body.
Overall, I think it’s an okay taste. I had to continue sipping to get used to the cinnamon and didn’t end up finishing this.
My ranking 4/10.
2. Watermelon Jalapeno – Viva la Vida
Okay, this one is by far the one that I was most curious about since watermelons and jalapeno don’t seem like an obvious combination. Upon opening the can, I get the smell of watermelon! Even though it is a completely different flavor from Desierto, you get a lot of the pineapple undertone which makes me realize I’m drinking tepache and not just any fermented drink.
The jalapeño is very alive and present in this drink! After you get past the watermelon taste the pepper taste comes out and it even leaves a peppery after taste. Compared to the prickly pear flavor, this one has more sweetness to it, both in flavor and in smell. My gut doesn’t feel as tingly and warm as this one. Perhaps the absence of the cinnamon neutralized its spice.
Overall, I like this one a little bit better than Desierto. Overall, it’s more enjoyable than the prickly pear, and I think the balance of the tart and sweetness makes it easier to get used to.
My ranking: 5/10
3. Mango Chili
Being a mango lover, I was kind of expecting this one to be my favorite out of the three. The first thing I smell as soon I opened the can was the overwhelming fruity mango. It reminds me of a Mexican lollipop that I used to always buy as a kid. I think it’s called, Varo mango!? If you know what lollipop I’m referring to, please leave me a comment down below! Haha
The taste is spectacular, and I’m happy that I left this one for last because it is by far my favorite out of the three. It has a perfect balance of sweet and spicy and has a true taste of chili without it being overwhelming. The smell brings out a floral side to the taste, which makes it pleasant to keep sipping. To be honest, it reminds me a lot of the Varo mango lollipop, and in the best way. It’s literally like drinking a mango chili flavored lollipop with a bit of tartness to it.
Overall, this is my favorite tepache and stands out from the three that I taste tested. It’s flavors are more familiar while at the same time combining the tepache fermented undertones.
My ranking: 7/10
My overall score for these drinks is a 5.5/10.
I don’t think I would purchase the watermelon or the prickly pear flavors again. I would, however, buy the mango chili one repeatedly.
From a nutritional perspective, one of the best aspects about this drink is that for the entire serving it is only 45 calories, it is made from organic ingredients, and it is loaded with probiotics! I’m not sure that it completely lives up to what many social media influencers claim it to be.
Don’t take my word for it though, give these drinks a try for yourself and let me know your thoughts!
Have you ever tried Tepache before?
Let me know if the comments below if you’ve ever tried this unique Mexican street drink.
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