Chicha morada is a beverage originated in the Andean regions of
Perú but is currently consumed at a national level.
The base ingredient of the drink is
corn ''culli'' or ''ckolli'', which is a Peruvian variety of corn known commonly as
purple corn which is abundantly grown and harvested along the
Andes Mountains.
Its history and consumption was already widespread in
pre-Columbian
In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, ...
times, prior to the establishment of the Inca Empire. The current preparation can be traced through different works of the nineteenth century as those of Juan de Arona, and Carlos Prince. The oldest references to its preparation as we know it today come from the writings produced in the mid-1870s by the French Camille Pradier-Fodéré.
Preparation
![Chicha_maiz_morado](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Chicha_maiz_morado.jpg)
Nowadays, chicha morada is consumed in three ways: A traditional homemade preparation, a
pre-manufactured product or a
manufactured
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a ran ...
product.
* Traditional preparation consists of boiling the
purple corn in water along with
pineapple peels and pieces of
quince, adding a pinch of
cinnamon and a few
cloves. The boiled mixture is strained and allowed to cool, after which
sugar or
chancaca
Chancaca is a typical Bolivian, Chilean and Peruvian, warm, sweet sauce made of raw unrefined sugar from sugarcane. It is often flavored with orange peel and cinnamon, and is consumed on sopaipillas or picarones.
Chancaca is also a synonym f ...
is added, as well as chopped fruit and lemon if desired.
* The pre-manufactured product is sold in two ways:
** As packets of dry
powder
A powder is a dry, bulk solid composed of many very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms ''powder'' and '' granular'' are sometimes used to distin ...
manufactured with a basis of sugar,
acidifier
Acidifiers are inorganic chemicals that, put into a human (or other mammalian) body, either produce or become acid.
These chemicals increase the level of gastric acid in the stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastroin ...
s and
artificial flavors
A flavoring (or flavouring), also known as flavor (or flavour) or flavorant, is a food additive used to improve the taste or smell of food. It changes the perceptual impression of food as determined primarily by the chemoreceptors of the gust ...
to which the preparer should only add water. Although consumption is massive because of the advantages of low cost and sweet taste, such products do not achieve the characteristic flavor of a chicha prepared in a
tradition
A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...
al way, nor do they contain the
antioxidants derived from purple corn.
** As bags of purple chicha concentrate (
syrup
In cooking, a syrup (less commonly sirup; from ar, شراب; , beverage, wine and la, sirupus) is a condiment that is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars ...
) intended for large-scale distribution. This version contains all the extract of the fruits, retaining flavor and aroma. The preparer should only add
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...
and lemon juice.
* The manufactured product consists of chicha morada produced in a large-scale
industrialized
Industrialisation ( alternatively spelled industrialization) is the period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial society. This involves an extensive re-organisation of an econo ...
form that is sold in small
cans or
bottle
A bottle is a narrow-necked container made of an impermeable material (such as glass, plastic or aluminium) in various shapes and sizes that stores and transports liquids. Its mouth, at the bottling line, can be sealed with an internal stop ...
s of personal or
family size
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideal ...
, in the style of
soft drinks.
A notable
Peruvian delicacy can be derived from chicha morada by adding a binder such as
chuño or corn starch to the traditional preparation. This
porridge-like substance is what Peruvians call "mazamorra morada", to which is added dried or fresh
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
s such as
prune
A prune is a dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (''Prunus domestica''). Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes. A prune is the firm-fleshed fruit (plum) of '' Prunus domestica'' varieties that have a high so ...
s and
raisin
A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, the word ''raisin'' is reserved for the ...
s. Its consumption is very widespread in
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = National seal
, national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...
in
celebrations together with chicha morada, but it increases during October.
Cultural impact
* Consumption figures for chicha morada in Peru have even reached that of
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Originally marketed as a temperance drink and intended as a patent medicine, it was invented in the late 19th century by John Stith Pemberton in Atlant ...
. Its sale is prevalent in
restaurants,
supermarkets and others.
* ''Import and Export Doña'' ''Isabel'' leads the export market of chicha morada bottled to
North America,
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
,
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
,
Australia and
Japan with 23% of total sales.
* In 2007, the company
Alicorp
Alicorp is the largest Peruvian consumer goods company, with operations in South America.
History
The company now known as Alicorp was started in 1956 as Industrias Teodoro Aldude and Anderson, Clayton & Co. as an oil and soap manufacturer in ...
, with its Negrita brand, launched bottled chicha morada, ready for consumption.
* The
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ...
of
purple corn during the year 2008 reached its zenith, in countries with an influx of
Peruvian immigrants.
* Chicha morada is the representative drink of
Peruvian cuisine
Peruvian cuisine reflects local practices and ingredients including influences mainly from the indigenous population, including the Inca, and cuisines brought by immigrants from Europe (Spanish cuisine, Italian cuisine); Asia (Japanese cuisine an ...
, because it is refreshing and versatile for pairing. It combines in any occasion of consumption, either individually or as a group and is consumed by young people and adults. In October, the Peruvian 'purple month' (known as the month in which the procession of the
Lord of Miracles
The Lord of Miracles (in Spanish: ''Señor de los Milagros''), also known as "Christ of Miracles", is an image painted of Jesus Christ that is venerated in Lima, Peru. The image was painted during the 17th century by Benito or Pedro Dalcon, ...
takes place in
Lima
Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
and the parishioners wear purple habits), chicha morada combines a lot with the famous
anticucho
''Anticuchos'' (singular ''anticucho'', Quechua 'Anti Kuchu', '' Anti'': 'Eastern region of the Andes' or 'Eastern native ethnicities', ''Kuchu'': 'Cut'; Quechua for 'Anti-style cuts', 'Eastern-style cuts') are popular and inexpensive meat dishes ...
s,
picarones, turrón de Doña Pepa, mazamorra morada, among other dishes representative of Peruvian cuisine.
See also
*
Chicha
*
Chicha de jora
Chicha de jora is a corn beer or chicha prepared by germinating maize, extracting the malt sugars, boiling the wort, and fermenting it in large vessels (traditionally huge earthenware vats) for several days. The process is essentially similar to ...
*
Colada morada
Colada Morada is a drink that is part of Ecuador's gastronomic culture along with t'anta wawa. It is a purple and thick liquid that is prepared with typical fruits of Ecuador, spices and maize flour, corn flour.
This drink is traditionally consum ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Receta de la chicha morada tradicional en el portal YanuqEl maíz morado: investigación de la chef instructora Jimena Fiol
Peruvian drinks
Bolivian drinks
Maize-based drinks