Easy Chicha Morada Recipe (Purple Corn Drink)

Try making this chicha morada recipe at home and you will instantly be taken away to the picturesque land of ancient Peru, where you will feel like a powerful Mayan emperor (the drink was reserved only for the royal kings of Peru).

Hey, if you have traveled to the wonderful land of Peru, you have probably already tasted the incredible Chicha Morada drink, it’s a traditional Peruvian beverage, and the main ingredient is purple corn.

As a typical Peruvian drink, chicha morada is also called cocktail of the Incas.  Follow the easy recipe below and discover the benefits of this delicious homemade drink!

What is Purple corn?

Purple corn (Maiz morado in Spanish) is a type of corn variety grown in the Andes. It is a real superfood that grows in the Andes Mountains, Peru and Bolivia. Cultivated at 3000 meters above sea level, it is a true treasure of nature that has multiple properties.

With its distinguishing purple color, this purple corn is used to prepare a delicious and nutritious refreshing drink, Chicha Morada, as well as a tasty dessert, Mazamorra Morada. It’s an excellent natural source of antioxidants and anti radicals, this purple corn facilitates blood circulation and helps reduce cholesterol. It is an Andean ancestral food, and it is an indispensable ingredient to prepare our favorite drink the CHICHA MORADA!

The current production have spread around its geographical land that is now mainly in Peru: but nowadays, it is also cultivated in the areas of Lima, Ancash and Arequipa, in the mountains at more than 3,000 m of altitude.

Purple Corn Benefits

Purple corn, a natures treasure with a thousand virtues.

A mysterious and intriguing food, purple corn is a deep purple, purple, almost black. As we mentioned It grows in Latin America in very specific places (Andes Mountains, Peru, Bolivia) and at a very high altitude. If one tries to grow purple corn elsewhere than where it usually grows, it loses its color, until it turns yellow, like conventional corn.

But purple corn has nothing to do with yellow corn. It is endowed with many virtues, all more interesting than each other. Purple corn is the ideal dietary supplement for people who want to achieve beneficial effects on their health through plants.

The Incas consumed purple corn on a daily basis more than 2,500 years ago. And it is known that the Incas had a great knowledge of plants and Nature in general.

A very positive point about purple corn : it contains no trace of GMOs. A rare and under-exploited food, purple corn has escaped genetic modification and grows in the most natural way possible, with traditional cultivation methods.

How To Best Consume Purple Corn?

Purple corn is consumed in the form of flour and powder. This makes its consumption easier. Producers who grow purple corn, therefore, reduce the cobs to flour or crush them into small shards.

To make these purple corn powders, producers use ancestral methods they first dry the cobs, then they grind the stems of the purple corn without the grains, because it is in the stem that the most interesting nutrients are concentrated.

Purple corn flour is then used to prepare healthy and tasty drinks and amazing dishes. In Latin America, specifically in Lima, a drink called the “chicha morada” and a very popular dessert called the ” mazamorra morada “are prepared. Peruvians love it.

In cooking, purple corn flour has a fine grain, and its color is a fairly light, pastel purple. The purple corn chips are very small and give a little crunchy and crispy side to the dishes. Each shine has a different color that ranges from medium purple to dark purple.

Purple corn is sweet under the puck, it tends towards the sweet and slightly tart flavor.

To make a liter of “chicha morada” in a simplified version, here is the recipe : boil 250 ml of water and pour it on 1 teaspoon of flour or purple corn chips. Let stand for 10 minutes, strain and then add 750 ml of apple juice, a little vanilla powder. You can also add a little cinnamon.

In the modern kitchen it is very easy to use purple corn. It can be used in both salty and sweet recipes. It gives a very nice purple color to dishes and drinks. You can use it in smoothies, in cereals, purees, sauces, desserts, bread, cakes. Purple corn is incorporated everywhere and brings an original color to your recipes.

What are its properties?

Purple corn is endowed with many properties and virtues. The research carried out indicates that it promotes good heart health, improves blood circulation and actively fights against aging thanks to its richness in antioxidants.

Purple corn contains anthocyanin, a natural pigment found in cherry, blackberry, blueberry, blood orange, eggplant or plum.

Purple corn contains 4 to 5 times more anthocyanins than blueberry, a fruit known for its anti-oxidant properties.

Anthocyanins have multiple health interests :

– fight against skin aging.

– regeneration of connective tissues and production of collagen and elastin.

– cellular nutrition and promotion of exchanges between cells.

– anti-inflammatory properties.

– cholesterol reduction.

– improvement of the cardiovascular system.

– improved blood circulation.

Purple corn also contains phenolics. Research has shown that regular intake is beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Indeed, phenolics fight the process of atherosclerosis( thickening of the arteries), fight hypertension, help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of blood clots.

What are its nutritional values?

Purple corn is rich in nutrients and macronutrients. It contains between 75 and 84% carbohydrates, 8 to 15% protein, 5 to 10% fatty acids, and little fiber (about 1.8 g per 100 grams).

At the macronutrient level, purple corn is more than interesting. It contains :

– vitamin B3 which contributes to the cellular repair process (scars, burns, cuts…) and which facilitates the transport of oxygen in the blood.

– vitamin B2 that helps the fixation of iron in the blood and helps in the regulation of the hormonal system.

– vitamin B1 which facilitates the synthesis of fatty acids from food into steroids. It also helps to fight against the accumulation of lactic acid, responsible for aches and pains.

Purple corn also contains iron, potassium and manganese. It is also a source of vitamin A and C in small quantities.

To summarize, purple corn is a gift from Nature, a superfood rich in benefits for our organism. It reduces cardiovascular risks, fights against aging of the skin, regulates the hormonal system and it is very simple to use.

What more could you ask for?

So, what is chicha morada?

Chicha Morada is a very popular drink in Peru. Though, be careful not to confuse it with the chicha de jora, a drink made from fermented corn, with which she has nothing in common.

If you’ve ever traveled to Peru, you’ve probably noticed two (non-alcoholic) drinks: the Inka Kola, a yellow drink made with the head of Aztec as a logo and the chicha Morada which is a purple and opaque drink that is very popular with Peruvians.

The color of the beverage comes from the purple corn that is used. It is a typical Peruvian type of corn that has many antioxidant properties, but is also known for its ability to promote tissue regeneration, lower cholesterol levels, and promote blood circulation. It may be these benefits that encourage Peruvians to consume it almost daily and have helped make the chicha morada as popular as it is today!

This drink is very easy to make and it is found on the tables of virtually all Peruvian restaurants. In hot weather, the chicha morada will be served with ice and some will put a touch of lemon. In winter, the drink will be served hot, directly after boiling. A true delight.

From the moment you have a little purple corn, the recipe for chicha morada becomes quite easy to make. First you need to find a large pot and add three liters of water to it. Then we dip into it ½ kilo of corn, a pineapple peel, as well as cinnamon and cloves to taste. Then bring everything to a boil, until the corn grains open or crack. Finally, it is necessary to filter the preparation to keep only the purple liquid. If you want to consume the hot drink, go right away. If you want to cool down, add the equivalent of two lemons to it and place it in the refrigerator until it reaches the desired temperature.

Homemade chicha morada recipe

Without more preamble, I leave you a recipe (made in my way of course) of the chicha.

The fastest method is, of course, to buy chicha morada in bottles or cans, but it will never taste the same as the homemade version.

Ingredients:

• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 7 cloves
• Pineapple (3 slices of pineapple)
• 1 Apple (cut into pieces)
• 1 lime (cut in half)
• purple corn (4 tsp for 2 liters of water)
• And about 1 liter of pure water

Preparation:

1. First pour into a saucepan 2 liters of water, boil for a few minutes, then add cinnamon, cloves, pineapple, apple, lemon, do not forget 4 tablespoons of purple corn.
2. Allow to boil for 1 hour max.
3. Once the water boils, lower the heat and let it brew for a few more minutes.
4. Strain everything with the help of the colander, once filtered add honey to your taste, and that’s it ! don’t forget to refrigerate for an ultra reflective drink.
5. Now you can enjoy your purple corn drink, which is a real gift from the pachamama ;-).

It’s ready! Feel free to drink it fresh, and even add a few ice cubes in there.

Enjoy !!

Have you tried making this chicha morada recipe at home? Let me know in the comments below.