Photo: Maria Moledo
Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican holiday beverage that holds great cultural significance. It’s the island’s version of eggnog, creamy and coconutty, usually served with rum for an added kick. Coquito comes out as the holidays loom, making it a fixture on the island and throughout the Puerto Rican diaspora in the continental United States.
The drink is a pillar of Puerto Rican culture and central to the spirit of togetherness and celebration with family and friends during the holiday season. The exact origins of coquito are unclear, but it is believed to have been influenced by the island’s Spanish and African heritage. It has a devoted following on the mainland, where is often shared among family and friends as a way to spread joy and cheer.
Devotees can find coquito around Christmas time. The drink is also popular in the United States, especially in areas with large Puerto Rican populations. New York is home to the largest Puerto Rican community on the mainland, and the beverage is easy to find in most Latin neighborhoods in the city. In the Tri-State area, check Newark, N.J. or Hartford, Waterbury and Bridgeport, Conn. Philadelphia and Chicago are also rich in Puerto Rican cuisine and culture, as are plenty of cities and towns in central and south Florida.
Where to drink it in San Juan:
El Churry is a small local chain that gets rave reviews. They have food truck around the city, and a restaurant at 394 Calle San Claudio.
La Factoria, a staple of the Old San Juan bar scene, at 148 Calle San Sebastián, has earned its rep for the holiday beverage as well.
Where to drink it in New York:
Cuchifritos 116, in the heart of Spanish Harlem, at 168 E. 116th St. is a bedrock restaurant in New York’s Latin cuisine scene.
For a downtown vibe, Casa Adela, at 66 Loisada Ave. (aka Avenue C), and 5th St., pay homage to the early days of the diaspora, the mambo was the sound of the Lower East Side.
Where to drink it in Miami:
Coquito Miami 305, 7070 Coral Way. Known for its signature and delicious flavors like Pastelito de Guayaba and Café con Leche, as well as the traditional coquito, this Puerto Rican beverage maker has made a big hit in the crossroads of Latin American in the United States.
Dos Croquetas, a popular local chain with outlets on Bird Road, Calle Ocho and a Hialeah pop-up spot, leans to the sweet side, with its popular version of coquito topped with whipped cream.
How to drink it like a local:
Make it yourself or get invited to a Puerto Rican holiday gathering for the most authentic version of the holiday cheer in liquid form.
“Every coquito maker has their own recipe with ‘secret’ spices passed down from their abuela or family member,” says coquito pro Tony Del Pino. “Everyone claims to have the best coquito.”
Recipes vary and are often passed down through generations as precious family secrets, but the basic ingredients are pretty straightforward:
- Coconut cream
- Evaporated milk
- Condensed milk
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Puerto Rican white rum
The secret sauce, so to speak, is how to vary the basic mix, and maybe a quick spin in the blender to keep the coconut from solidifying. Other ingredients such as nutmeg, cloves, or even chocolate make each batch distinctive, and – depending on the mixologist – more delicious.
Places like Coquito NYC and Candela Mamajuana offer the full monte (or monté, if you prefer) with kits that include booze, though setting your own potency is part of the fun. For virgin versions or BYOB fans Latin food giant Goya offers a kit that can be found in most grocery stores with lots of Puerto Rican customers.
Wherever you celebrate the holidays, a glass of good coquito goes a long way to making Navidad that much more feliz.
