Refreshing drinks to stay cool in Yucatán
Yucatán has a lot to offer, like places to visit and streets to stroll down; however, the Yucatán climate is pretty hot, to say the least, all year long. Luckily, we Yucatecos are ingenious, and make good use of the many local flavors and colors to prepare several refreshing drinks that help us survive the heat and make our days lighter.
There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to fighting the Yucatán heat, including popsicles, Bolis, sorbets, Troles, Granizados, Machacados, and Timbas (all three different versions of shaved ice), in addition to newer offerings like frappés and smoothies, and that’s just to mention a few. All of the above are offered in flavors ranging from seasonal fruit to recently imported treats, like hazelnut cream and some varieties of cakes.
Today I’d like to tell you about two of the most refreshing (and traditional) drinks you can find throughout your Yucatán travels.
“A soda, please!”
Just by the entrance to the Lucas de Gálvez market (on Calle 65-A x 56) you’ll find the Fuente de Sodas (soda fountain) “El Oasis,” founded in 1960. “El Oasis” is a mandatory stop for anyone shopping at the market, Yucateco or otherwise.
This one-of-a-kind place offers traditional sodas (carbonated beverages) which combine a concentrate of your chosen flavor with mineral water. At "El Oasis," you'll discover over 20 different flavors, including a local variety of cream soda, root beer, lemon, blueberry, orangeade, barley, coconut, grape, bubble gum, pineapple, and mango, among many others. Despite the wide variety offered, the top seller remains the root beer, which, despite its name, is non-alcoholic.
You'll also find non-carbonated “Aguas Frescas” (plant-based drinks), featuring traditional flavors like tamarind, horchata, and barley.
Beverages at "El Oasis" come in three sizes, with prices ranging from $20 to $40 pesos. And if you're enamored with a particular flavor and want to enjoy it at home with family and friends, you can also purchase your favorite flavor concentrate in a one-liter bottle, starting at $120 pesos.
Fuente de Sodas El Oasis
Mon. - Sat. 8 am - 6 pm
Sun. 8 am 12 pm
“A green juice and a dragon fruit water, coming right up!"
As you wander through the market, make sure not to miss a visit to "Doña Cecilia," a family-owned business with over 20 years of experience. Just like in many other local fruit stands and juice bars, at "Doña Cecilia," the drinks are made fresh on the spot, with natural fruit and tailored to the customer's taste; they can be sweetened with sugar, your favorite substitute, or even without it.
They boast a variety of over 30 flavors, including classics like melon, watermelon, pineapple, horchata, dragon fruit, orangeade, Crema Morisca, and chaya, as well as more novel options like bubble gum flavor or mango chamoyada, made with fruit pulp and chamoy, both liquid and powdered. The availability of some flavors may vary depending on the season, such as pitahaya (dragon fruit) or mamey.
Among the most popular flavors are pineapple with chaya, pitahaya, orangeade, and passion fruit. They also offer smoothies and milk-based drinks (from chocolate milk to milk with fruit like strawberry or banana), as well as green juices with celery, nopales (cactus leaves), parsley, pineapple, chaya, or the ever-popular orange juice.
They offer a standard size of one liter for $35 pesos or half a liter for $30 pesos. The drinks are served in a plastic or Styrofoam cup, with plenty of ice, a straw, and a characteristic protective bag to prevent contamination. If you've decided to try one of "Doña Cecilia's" beverages, we recommend minimizing your environmental impact by bringing your own cup or thermos to avoid both the cup and the bag.
This is but a sample of the refreshing options Yucatecos consider when looking to beat the heat that’s so typical of our region. As fearsome as it may seem, it’s the perfect excuse to try one. Regardless of the flavor, presentation, or size you choose, what’s important is to stay hydrated on the hottest days, and avoid a heat stroke.
Jugos Doña Cecilia
Mercado Lucas de Gálvez
Every day, 7 am - 5 pm
Refreshing |
Options! |
 |
Photography by Goretty Ramos for its use in Yucatán Today.
Related articles
