Fresco de carao is a traditional Salvadoran drink made from the honey of carao pods, steeped in water until they release a thick, dark extract.
The same extract makes two drinks: carao refresco, with water and sugar, and carao milk, with milk boiled with cinnamon.
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Guatemalan Carao Pod Cooler
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 glasses
- Category: Drink
- Cuisine: Guatemalan
Ingredients
For the extract
- 8 ripe carao pods
- 1 liter of hot boiled water
For the refresco
- 500 ml of carao extract
- 1 liter of water
- Sugar, to taste
- Ice, for serving
For the carao milk
- 500 ml of carao extract
- 1 liter of milk
- 1 piece of cinnamon
- Sugar, to taste
- Ice, optional
Preparation
- Make the extract, quickly rinse the carao pods without rubbing them, so you don’t lose the honey, and break them into pieces. Cover with the liter of hot water and let them steep, stirring now and then, until they release their extract and the liquid turns thick. You can also use room-temperature water and leave it from early in the day.
- Make the refresco, set aside about 500 ml of the extract, add the liter of water, strain, sweeten to taste, and serve over ice.
- Make the carao milk, boil the liter of milk with the cinnamon and let it cool; mix it with the remaining 500 ml of extract, strain, and sweeten to taste. Serve cold.
- Stir before serving, since the carao settles to the bottom.
Tips
- Don’t scrub the pods: the honey they release is the drink’s flavor.
- Stir the extract while it steeps so it releases more.
- Serve it well chilled and stir before each glass.
Traditional variations
- Carao milk is made with the same extract and milk boiled with cinnamon.
How to serve
Serve the fresco de carao well chilled, over ice, stirring before serving.
Recommended pairings
- Pupusas
- Sweet bread
Did you know?
Carao is the fruit of a Central American tree whose long pods hold a dark, intensely flavored honey.
Frequently Asked Questions
By steeping the broken pods in hot water, stirring, until the liquid thickens.
The same extract mixed with milk boiled with cinnamon, strained, and sweetened.
Because the carao settles to the bottom of the container.
