Why go
Understanding a few local drink terms makes an everyday café or market stop more rewarding. Try agua dulce for a warm cane-sugar drink in the cooler interior, compare fruit frescos and batidos, or choose agua de pipa when you want the water inside a green coconut.
The full story
Coffee is closely associated with Costa Rica, but it is only one part of the drinks tradition. Agua dulce is made by dissolving tapa de dulce, a form of raw cane sugar, in hot water; the older account links it particularly with the cooler interior. Frescos and batidos use fresh fruit with water or milk, drawing on fruits such as papaya, mango, tamarind and guanábana. Agua de pipa is the water drunk directly from a green coconut. Guanacaste also has horchata, described here as a cornmeal and cinnamon drink. These names help distinguish what is in the glass instead of treating every fruit drink as the same order. For those interested in spirits, guaro is made from sugarcane and may be served in a mixed drink such as a guaro sour.
Useful to know
- Ask whether a fruit drink is made with water or milk.
- If you want sparkling water, ask for agua con gas.