Guatemalan Tamarind Cooler

Fresco de tamarindo is a cold Guatemalan drink made from tamarind pulp diluted in water and sweetened, with a very refreshing sweet-and-tart flavor.

It’s one of the most widely drunk beverages in Guatemala on hot days, valued for its characteristic tart flavor.

Guatemalan Tamarind Cooler

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• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Beverage
• Cuisine: Guatemalan

Print Recipe

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Ingredients

• 300 g of tamarind pulp, seeded (about 10.5 oz)
• 6 cups of water
• 1 cup of sugar
• to taste of ice

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Instructions

1. Soak, soak the tamarind pulp in 2 cups of hot water for 20 minutes.
2. Break down, break down the pulp with your hands or a fork to separate it into the water.
3. Strain, strain the liquid to remove seeds and fibers.
4. Dilute, mix the strained liquid with the rest of the water.
5. Sweeten, add sugar to taste and mix well.
6. Chill, refrigerate.
7. Serve, serve very cold, with ice.

Tips for getting it right

• Soaking the pulp in hot water makes it easier to separate and dissolve.
• Straining the liquid well is important to remove all the tamarind’s seeds and fibers.
• Adjust the amount of sugar based on the pulp’s tartness, which can vary.
• It’s a very refreshing drink, ideal for hot days.

Traditional variations

• It’s one of the most popular cold drinks in Guatemala and throughout Central America.
• Some families add a pinch of salt to enhance the sweet-and-tart flavor.

How to serve

Fresco de tamarindo is served very cold, in a glass, with ice.

It’s a traditional drink very popular in Guatemala on hot days.

Recommended sides

• None, enjoyed on its own

Did you know?

Tamarind is a fruit widely used throughout Central America to make sweet-and-tart drinks and sweets.

Its characteristic tart flavor makes it one of the most refreshing drinks to beat the heat.