Is tepache your new favourite sugary soft drink alternative?

The latest fermented drink hitting shelves and fridges

In recent years, there’s been an increasing popularity for fermented drinks as an alternative to sugar-laden soft drinks. By now, you’re probably familiar with some of these like:

• Kombucha, made from tea
• Kefir, available both as water-based and milk-based
• Switchel, based on apple cider

These fermented drinks are popular because they taste great and are also packed with health benefits. Because their fermented, they’ve got plenty of live cultures which can help to keep your gut flora happy and healthy. They’re also lower in sugar than conventional soft drinks as the sugar used up during the lacto-fermentation process. But are you familiar with tepache?

What is tepache?

Tepache is a fermented drink made from the skins and cores of pineapples. It is usually flavoured with warming spices like cinnamon and cloves. Originating in Mexico, where it is hugely popular, it’s a crisp, refreshing and fruity drink that you’re bound to love.

Making your own tepache at home is easy and is a great way to use up bits of the pineapple that you’d usually throw away. You’ll need the skins and cores of the pineapple, some sugar (traditionally a piloncillo, but given that’s going to be tricky to find here in Australia, brown sugar will be a perfectly adequate substitute), spices like a cinnamon stick or cloves, and water.

You can find a few recipes online to get you started and find your perfect tepache recipe. Depending on the ambient temperature, the fermentation process will take 24 to 48 hours – if you leave it too long, you’ll end up with vinegar so be careful! If you’re making tepache at home, it’s important to remember that like most fermented drinks, you will end up with a slightly alcoholic product at the end of fermentation, usually around 2 to 4 percent.

Not up for making your own? No problem

Of course, making your own tepache isn’t for everyone. Commercially produced tepache, like Remedy Tepache, is a great option that you can find in the fridges of your favourite shops or you can buy by the case to have on hand at home. And if you’re committed to being sugar-free, they use natural sweeteners instead of sugar. In addition, because the fermentation is more controlled, the final product is alcohol-free, making it a safer choice for the kids or when you’re the designated driver.

Pairing tepache with food

It’s a no brainer that tepache goes perfectly with Mexican food like tacos and enchiladas. It’s also a great accompaniment for spicy curries as well as BBQs and picnics. In Mexico, they love to mix tepache with beer (yes, just like a shandy, but with pineapple vibes) and you can also just it as a mixer with tequila, vodka and rum.

What are you waiting for? If you’ve not already tried tepache, give it a go!