🍹 El Salvador's Alcohol: Between Tradition and Modernity
El Salvador has a rich and varied alcoholic beverage culture, blending pre-Columbian traditions, colonial heritage, and modern innovations. From artisanal distilleries to century-old breweries, here's an overview of the drinks that make Salvadorans celebrate.
🌽 Chaparro and Chicha: The Mayan Heritage
Chaparro, also known as Chicha, is El Salvador's most emblematic spirit. Its history dates back to pre-Columbian times, when the Maya and Aztecs prepared a fermented drink from corn.
History and Origins
Before colonization, indigenous peoples fermented corn that had been chewed by children, whose saliva activated the enzymes needed for fermentation. With the arrival of the Spanish and sugar cane, the recipe evolved to incorporate panela (unrefined cane sugar).
The name "Chaparro" comes from the tree of the same name, whose wood produces little smoke when burned. Clandestine producers used this wood for their artisanal stills hidden in the mountains, called "sacaderas".
Traditional Recipe
The traditional recipe includes: fermented corn kernels (minimum 7 days), panela (unrefined cane sugar), fresh ginger, black pepper, cloves, and pineapple peels. Today, you can also find fruit chichas: marañón (cashew), pineapple, tamarind, and nance.
Note: Chaparro received its Protected Designation of Origin in December 2016.
🥃 Ron Cihuatán: El Salvador's Premium Rum
Ron Cihuatán is El Salvador's modern pride and the country's only rum distillery. Founded in 2004 in the Cihuatán valley, it produces internationally award-winning rums.
The Story Behind the Name
"Cihuatán" means in Nahuatl "the land beside the sleeping woman". According to Mayan legend, a goddess brought fertility and riches to the valley before falling asleep in the form of Mount Guazapa, watching over the sugar cane fields ever since.
What Makes Cihuatán Unique
100% Salvadoran from sugar cane to bottling. The molasses comes from a century-old mill. It's the only distillery in the world to use Ceiba barrels, the sacred Mayan tree, combined with the Solera method in American bourbon and sherry casks.
Rums to Discover
Jade (4 years): Fruity white rum, perfect for cocktails. Indigo (8 years): Notes of vanilla, cappuccino, dark chocolate. Cinabrio (12 years): Plum, caramelized orange, pistachio. Xaman XO (15 years): Finished in Ceiba barrels, complex and deep notes.
🍺 Salvadoran Beers
El Salvador is a beer-drinking country! Here are the must-try brands.
Pilsener: The National Beer (since 1906)
Pilsener is THE beer of El Salvador, brewed for over 100 years by Industrias La Constancia. A light lager at 4.4% ABV, it costs about $1 USD in stores. Perfect for a day at the beach!
Suprema: The Premium Beer (since 1967)
Considered the "king of beers" in El Salvador, Suprema costs about 25% more than Pilsener and enjoys a certain social prestige. European Premium Lager style with a distinctive taste.
Golden Light and Regia
Golden (since 1990) is the country's first light beer, cold-filtered. Regia is the working-class beer, harder to find in tourist areas but loved by locals, often sold in 40 oz bottles.
🍻 Craft Beers: The New Wave
Cadejo Brewing Company
Named after the legend of the Cadejo (a canine spirit from Central American folklore), this brewery is the reference for Salvadoran craft beer. Popular beers: La Mera Belga (Belgian blonde), La Roja (Red Ale), La Negra (Stout), Guapa (seasonal). Bars in San Salvador and El Tunco.
Other Craft Breweries
Brew Revolution: Mercurio IPA, Nyx Black Ale. Premio: 100% German malt. Caminito Chocos: Belgian Witbier, lime IPA.
🥥 Bonus: Coco Loco
Simple but delicious: a freshly chopped coconut with vodka or rum added directly to the coconut water. Perfect for the beach!
⚠️ Drink Responsibly
The legal drinking age in El Salvador is 18 years old. Enjoy Salvadoran flavors in moderation. ¡Salud! 🥂