Tomaseca is an ancestral drink from Colombia’s Pacific coast: viche mixed with honey, panela, cloves, and cinnamon, as Radio Nacional describes it.
Its origin
According to Revista Don Juan (El Tiempo), after making viche, the matronas of the Pacific would gather medicinal plants to mix with it and let it rest, sweetened with panela. The exact plants are kept secret.
Its traditional use
It’s traditionally associated with women’s recovery after childbirth and with relief from menstrual cramps; these are community traditions, not medical advice.
Viche, its base
Viche is the artisanal cane spirit of the Afro-Colombian communities of Colombia’s Pacific coast: cane juice is cooked, the guarapo ferments, and it’s distilled. According to Radio Nacional, its most popular strength is between 35 and 42 percent alcohol.
Editor’s note: Recetas123 doesn’t publish a recipe with quantities for this preparation because it hasn’t found a formula documented by a reliable source; this page describes it according to the sources consulted.
This is an alcoholic drink: enjoy it in moderation and only if you are of legal drinking age.
Frequently Asked Questions
An ancestral drink from Colombia's Pacific coast made with viche, honey, panela, cloves, cinnamon, and medicinal plants that each matrona keeps secret.
Traditionally, to support recovery after childbirth and ease menstrual cramps; it's not medical advice.
No: the plants and proportions change with whoever makes it.
