Mote con huesillo facts for kids
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| Type | Non-alcoholic beverage |
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| Place of origin | Chile |
| Main ingredients | Dried peaches, sugar or honey, water, cinnamon, husked wheat |
| Variations | Descarozados |
Mote con huesillo is a super popular traditional drink from Chile. People often enjoy it during the warm summer months. You can find it sold by friendly street vendors from their carts or stands.
This refreshing drink is non-alcoholic and tastes sweet. It has two main parts: a clear, nectar-like liquid and cooked husked wheat. The sweet liquid is made from dried peaches (called huesillos). These peaches are cooked with sugar, water, and cinnamon. Once the liquid cools down, it's mixed with fresh, cooked husked wheat berries (called mote). Sometimes, instead of just sugar, people might use molasses to make the sweet liquid.
Contents
What is Mote con Huesillo?
This special drink is very popular in central Chile. The main ingredients, mote (wheat) and huesillo (dried peaches), grow well in places with a Mediterranean climate. This is why the drink became a favorite in Chile.
You'll mostly find mote con huesillo during summer. It's a common sight to see street vendors selling it from their rolling carts. Many families also love to make it at home. All the ingredients are easy to find in supermarkets or local grocery stores. You won't often see bottled or canned versions of this drink, as it's best enjoyed fresh!
Different Ways to Enjoy It
Sometimes, the drink is served without the dried peaches. When this happens, it's called a "descarozados." This means "pitted" or "without the stone."
Occasionally, you might find mote con huesillo with dried prunes instead of peaches. However, this is not very common. Another modern way to make it is by using peach preserves instead of dried peaches.
How is Mote con Huesillo Made?
Making mote con huesillo takes a little time, but it's worth it! Here are the steps:
- First, the huesillos, or dried peaches, are washed. They are then soaked in water overnight. This helps them get soft again.
- The next day, the rehydrated peaches are cooked. They simmer for about 30 minutes or more. They cook in a mix of sugar and water. Sometimes, natural cinnamon sticks are added for extra flavor.
- To give the drink a beautiful honey color, some people heat sugar in a pan. This makes the sugar turn into a rich, orange-ruby caramel. This caramel is then added to the peach syrup. However, not everyone uses this step.
- While the peaches are cooking, the mote, or husked wheat, is cooked in water. It cooks until it becomes tender and soft.
- Once the mote is cooked, it is drained. Then, it's added to the sweet huesillos drink. The whole mixture is left to cool down.
- This delicious combination is served chilled. It usually comes in a tall glass. A long dessert spoon is often given to help you enjoy every bit!
See also
In Spanish: Mote con huesillos para niños
