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Apr 28
6 Famous Chilean Drinks Authentic Food Quest

6 Famous Chilean Drinks To Experience Like A Local

  • Rosemary
  • 40 Comments
  • Drinks, Chile
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You may already know, Chile produces excellent wines with a growing reputation every year. 

Beyond wines, you’ll find an amazing array of local Chilean drinks.  

Our quest for authentic food in Chile took us across the entire country. From the Pacific Ocean to the Atacama desert, we explored the local food and popular drinks in Chile.

In this article, we put a spotlight on 6 unique Chilean drinks you must try for a local experience.

Are you ready to drink like a Chilean? Let’s go!

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Table of Contents

  • 1. Mote con Huesillo – Traditional Chilean Non-Alcoholic Drink
  • 2. Carménère – The Emblematic Chilean Red Wine
  • 3. Borgoña Drink – Popular Chilean Punch
  • 4. Chicha – Traditional Independence Day Drink
  • 5. Terremoto Drink – One of the Most Unique Chile Drinks
  • 6. Pisco Sour – Chilean National Drink and Cocktail
  • In Summary
    • Love Chilean Drinks? Pin it!

1. Mote con Huesillo – Traditional Chilean Non-Alcoholic Drink

One of the most typical Chile drinks you will find throughout the country is Mote con Huesillo. This drink has a long history dating back to the colonial time period, and the tradition continues today.

Drinking mote con huesillo is a popular way to quench your thirst during the hot summer months.

Mote con Huesillo, roughly translates to peaches with wheat. This drink is made from husked wheat (mote) and dried peaches (huesillo) soaked with sugar water and cinnamon to make a sweet, non-alcoholic drink.

This is one of the most popular traditional Chilean non-alcoholic drinks.

This Chile Drink Mote con Huesillo is like food by Authentic Food QuestFavorful Mote con Huesillo

You can find this Chilean drink everywhere from restaurants, parks, at street fairs or sold by street vendors.

This beverage is so popular, that there’s even a saying for it. “Más chileno que el mote con huesillo,” which translates to mean “More Chilean than a mote con huesillo.”

This refers to the distinctive national pride of this famous traditional Chilean drink.

We first tried this drink at a local fair in the South of Chile, and again on the streets of San Pedro de Atacama. We found it refreshing, though a bit odd with the softened wheat.

The sweetened syrupy juice from the dried peaches gave it a delicious flavor that we both enjoyed.

The best part about mote con huesillo is that it is a drink that you can eat as well.

Mote con Huesillo Sign in Santiago by Authentic Food QuestVendor sign with different sizes of Mote con Huesillo

2. Carménère – The Emblematic Chilean Red Wine

Carménère is the emblematic wine of Chile, much like Malbec is to Argentina. The Carménère vines were imported into Chile from Bordeaux in France. In 1867, after the Phylloxera plague wiped out most of the vineyards of Europe the Carménère was considered extinct.

It was only rediscovered in Chile in the mid-1990s after being mistaken for Merlot. You can learn more about Chile wines and Carménère in this detailed guide book.

We first tried Carménère in the wine regions of Maule Valley and Maipo Valley.  Maule Valley is where Chile’s first vines were planted in the 16th Century. Read more about our visits to the vineyard and wineries of Maule Valley.

Maipo Valley, located in the Central Valley is where many of Chile’s top red wines come from. We tasted Carménère at several vineyards in this valley. Our article, discovering Chile wines of Maipo Valley goes into more detail. 

Deep in color, this red wine is soft and rounded. It has floral aromas as well as berry flavors with hints of smoky tobacco. Carmenere is one of the most delicious Chilean drinks that you should not miss!

Chilean Red Wine Carmenere by Authentic Food QuestCarménère wine from Cousino Macul Winery

Authentic Food Quest Tip: Looking to taste Carmenere and the Chilean wines? Check the daily trips from Santiago and take a wine tour, visit wineries and discover amazing Chilean wines.

3. Borgoña Drink – Popular Chilean Punch

Borgoña is a popular punch prepared with red wine and ripe strawberries. It comes from the Central Valley, Chile’s most productive and internationally renowned wine region.

The Borgoña drink is typically prepared with Carménère, the iconic Chilean red wine. Strawberries are mixed with the wine and strawberry pieces are added to infuse into the newly made punch.

Sugar is sometimes added depending on taste preferences.

Making Borgogna in Chile by Authentic Food QuestBlending ingredients to make the perfect Borgoña

You will find Borgoña at street fairs, restaurants or bars in Chile. This is a refreshing drink, that resembles the sangria for the sweetness, though the taste is much more on the berry side.

Be warned, Borgoña is very easy to drink and the portion servings are large. With the mix of sugar and wine, you’ll find yourself tipsy quickly. Watch out!

One of the most popular Chilean Drinks Borgogna Drink by Authentic Food QuestSweet and delightful Borgoña

Authentic Food Quest Tip: Take a Valparaiso bites and bars tours with Urban Adventures.  During a fun evening in bohemian Valparaiso, taste the local culture and discover the famous drinks in Chile.

4. Chicha – Traditional Independence Day Drink

Chicha is a sweet wine typically made from fermented grapes or apples. It is one of the most traditional Chilean drinks consumed on Chile’s National Day also referred as fiestas patrias.

This holiday is celebrated on September 18th and marks the beginning of independence from Spain. On this day, Chile’s President will make a toast with Chicha during the military parade. It is not common to find this Chilean drink outside of this period, and you may need to search for it.  

We had the chance to try Chicha made with grapes at Boragó, one of the best restaurants in Santiago. 

After a couple of wine glasses, we sampled chicha. It was extremely easy to drink, though admitedly, our taste buds were already tainted. While sweet, it is not as sweet as a dessert wine.

This is one of the Chilean drinks we would not mind trying again. One of best parts about the experience was drinking it out of the traditional horn called cacho de chincha.

Don’t miss this typical drink of Chile on your travels to Santiago.

Rosemary Drinking Chicha in Santiago Chile Authentic Food QuestRosemary Drinking Chicha from a horn

5. Terremoto Drink – One of the Most Unique Chile Drinks

Another one of the unique and local Chile drinks is Terremoto. It is not found everywhere but worth trying while in Chile.

Terremoto literally means “earthquake” since you are left with the ground and legs feeling very shaky. The terremoto drink consists of pineapple ice-cream, mixed with a sweet, fermented white wine called Pipeño and grenadine.

The story behind this famous Chilean drink is interesting. Legend has it that a few days after the earthquake of 1985, a group of German reporters came to Santiago to report on the damages caused by the earthquake.

The group ordered pipeño wine and found it almost undrinkable. They asked the waiter to sweeten it and he added pineapple ice-cream.

When they tried it, they supposedly said “Esto sí que es un Terremoto” (This truly is an earthquake) due to how strong it was and the name stuck ever since.

We tried this drink in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile on a hot sunny afternoon. Having spent the day discovering the incredible landscape of Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), we were in need of something refreshing.

When the drink was served, we were surprised to see it clearly broken up into levels. The grenadine and mixture at the bottom and the ice-cream floating on top.

After stirring it and mixing it together, we took the first couple of sips. Despite being strong and sugary, it was surprisingly quite refreshing.

Rosemary enjoyed this drink much more than Claire. However, she was careful to keep drinking water in between sips.

The Germans were not far from the truth. Terremoto is strong and can leave you shaking at the knees.

A unique Chilean Drink Terremoto San Pedro de Atacama Authentic Food QuestThe powerful Terremoto local Chilean drink

Authentic Food Quest Tip: Experience Santiago nightlife with Urban Adventures. Discover Santiago’s bars and culture with a local guide, enjoying Terremoto and other Chilean cocktails and foods.

6. Pisco Sour – Chilean National Drink and Cocktail

Pisco Sour is the famous cocktail also known as Chile’s National Spirit or the national drink of Chile.  Peru has its own version of Pisco Sour that is also considered the national beverage. 

Although Chile and Peru dispute the origins of Pisco Sour, the way each country makes it is quite different and worth exploring.

Pisco Sour the national drink of Chile by Authentic Food QuestUnmissable Chilean Pisco Sours

Pisco Sour is the famous cocktail also known as Chile’s National Spirit.  Peru has its own version of Pisco Sour also considered the national beverage. 

Although Chile and Peru dispute the origins of Pisco Sour, the way each country makes it is quite different and worth exploring.

In Chile, Pisco Sour is made from Chilean Pisco brandy, lemon from Pica, sugar, and ice. In the Peruvian Pisco Sour, egg whites, bitter drops, and more sugar is usually added.

There are also significant differences in the way the Pisco brandy is made. In Chile, the Pisco brandy is aged in oak barrels which is not the case for Peruvian Pisco. 

You will find Pisco Sour served at restaurants and bars across the country. Tastewise, we found Chilean Pisco Sours to be smooth and easy to drink.

This typical drink in Chile is great to enjoy prior to dinner. Be sure not to miss it on your travels to Chile.

First Chilean Bar for Pisco Sour by Authentic Food QuestThe first Pisco Bar in Chile

Authentic Food Quest Tip: You can sip on Chile without traveling to the country. This easy to make at home Chilean Pisco Sour recipe will introduce you to the national drink of Chile. Grab the recipe Chilean Pisco Sour – How to Make it Home.

Authentic Food Quest Page_Break

In Summary

Chilean drinks are as unique and diverse as the food you’ll find throughout the country. Some of the typical Chile drinks you’ll see everywhere, while others you may need to dig for.

By seeking out these 6 famous Chilean drinks, you will elevate your experience from being a tourist to being a local. Immerse yourself in the local food and drinks culture.

However, if you are going to try all of these Chilean drinks, you’ll need some food to keep you going. Don’t miss check these 10 popular Chilean dishes worth trying.

Eat and drink like a local in Chile and savor your local and authentic food experiences.

In the comments below, please tell us what Chilean drink you would like to try.

Savor The Adventure!

Love Chilean Drinks? Pin it!

Authentic Food Quest - 6 Famous Chilean Drinks To Experience Like a Local

Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. That means at no extra charge to you, we earn a small commission when you purchase using these links. Please note we only link to products and services that we personally use or trust. 

Rosemary

Rosemary, ex-marketing and advertising strategist, is a digital nomad and content creator at Authentic Food Quest. Since 2015, with her partner, Claire, they travel the world in search of the best local food experiences. Their mission is to help you enjoy the best local specialties on your travels or via recipes in your home kitchen. Favorite country for food: Peru. Favorite local dish: Bacalhau. Favorite way to keep fit: Running. Rosemary is the chief content writer and strategist on Authentic Food Quest. She is also co-author of Authentic Food Quest Argentina and Authentic Food Quest Peru, available on Amazon.

    40 Comments

    1. Sara Broers
      April 29, 2016 at 12:29 pm · Reply

      #5 with the pineapple ice cream sounds good.. but it also sounds wickedly refreshing! Anything that resembles an earthquake should probably be drank with a little caution, right?

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:29 pm · Reply

        You bet Sara…stay away from #5 Terremoto, it is so strong….but refreshing with the ice-cream. The funny thing is that after you feel “shaky” Chileans serve a smaller version called “after-shock.” Caution is key 🙂 Thanks so much!

    2. Jaynie
      April 29, 2016 at 7:49 pm · Reply

      Wow, that first drink looks like a meal! Great post, thanks for sharing.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:29 pm · Reply

        You are welcome Jaynie….a drink in a meal…can’t beat that combination. Mote con Huesillo rocks!

    3. Tamara (Globe Guide)
      April 30, 2016 at 12:53 pm · Reply

      Great list! I loooove Chilean ones- I’ve got to visit someday and see the vineyards!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:31 pm · Reply

        The vineyards are amazing, with some of the best and largest wineries in South America. If you make it to Chile, visit the largest vineyard in the world – Concha y Toro – it is quite an experience! Have you tried Carmenere wines?

    4. Laura Lynch
      April 30, 2016 at 2:23 pm · Reply

      Well, I feel like I really failed to do my homework before we went to Chile. All we had was the pisco sour and the carmenere (though we were there for a wine trip). I don’t remember seeing the Mote con Huesillo. I would have loved to try it, even though it does sound more like a snack than a drink 😉

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:37 pm · Reply

        Hi Laura…no worries that you missed many of the drinks on your last trip to Chile. There can always be another one, right 🙂 The Mote con Huesillo is a very local drink and one is available everywhere, even in grocery stores. Quite tasty and filling at the same time. Did you enjoy the wineries? Cheers

    5. Michelle
      April 30, 2016 at 2:26 pm · Reply

      I’m not a big wine drinker, but Borgoña sounds delicious. Terremoto too. Actually, all of these sound pretty tasty.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:38 pm · Reply

        Thanks Michelle. Lot’s of other unique and authentic drinks besides wine. You would be just fine in Chile without the wines 🙂 Yes, pretty amazing and tasty drinks! Appreciate the comments.

    6. Katie
      April 30, 2016 at 5:03 pm · Reply

      I don’t know a single thing about Chilean drinks other than wine! This was a nice informative post, and I learned that pisco sours are also popular in Chile (I drank them in Peru)! I would be interested in trying all of them, but in particular the Mote de Huesillo. A drink made from dried peaches, wheat and sugar sounds very interesting!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:42 pm · Reply

        So glad you found the post informative and interesting. You are right, both Peru and Chile claim the Pisco Sour…and it is prepared differently in each country. Mote con huesillo – different textures and flavors, but a wonderful combination. Hope you can try it at some point soon 🙂 Cheers Katie.

    7. Mary
      April 30, 2016 at 6:58 pm · Reply

      OK you had me at wine…any kind of wine! I had no idea what huge amount of diversity there was in wine there. The terremoto is hilarious and actually I’d love some right about now. Looks like a trip to Peru is in store. Forget about machu pichu I want the wine tour!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        April 30, 2016 at 7:44 pm · Reply

        Thanks Mary for your comments. Actually, all these unique drinks are from Chile. Much more than just wine. Though the wines are wonderful, especially the reds – Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon. Hope you can visit soon!!!

    8. Alina Popescu
      May 1, 2016 at 2:27 am · Reply

      These all sound interesting, and I love to only drink local beverages when I travel. I do the same with food. Pisco Sour and Borgoña would be the ones I’d like best, I think.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 1, 2016 at 1:55 pm · Reply

        Hi Alina, that’s great that you only drink local beverages when you travel. What are you favorites so far? From which countries? These ones from Chile are all worth trying at least once, then settling back with your favorite. The Pisco Sour was one of our favorites 🙂 Thanks for your comments.

    9. Dana
      May 1, 2016 at 7:47 am · Reply

      Oh, the Borgoña looks tasty. I can see why you’d need to watch out drinking it. I could probably drink a couple quickly then pay for it later 🙂

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 1, 2016 at 2:02 pm · Reply

        You are right Dana. The local drinks are intriguing and dangerously strong…one does need take care…though as part of drinking the local culture, it’s a small price to pay 🙂 Appreciate your comments.

    10. anto
      May 1, 2016 at 12:29 pm · Reply

      I’ve been to Chile quite a few times but only had the mote con huesillo and of course the Pisco sour so far. I’m heading back in September so will remember the other ones for sure!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 1, 2016 at 2:07 pm · Reply

        So glad to hear Anto that you will have another chance to head back to Chile and try the other drinks. Our goal with authentic food quest is to share the knowledge the ahead of time, so that travelers like yourself don’t miss out. Do let us know which other ones you try and what you think of them 🙂

    11. Marie
      May 1, 2016 at 1:15 pm · Reply

      Wow, the first one sounds really delicious but I’m just not sure how I’d feel about the wheat being in the bottom.

      @spreadingJOY
      Marie

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 1, 2016 at 2:18 pm · Reply

        Thanks Marie for your comments. One of the most surprising things about mote con huesillo was actually how delicious it was. It’s a very popular drink and super sweet. The wheat gives it a lot of flavor and the combination with the peaches is quite interesting! It’s definitely worth trying out.

    12. Kim S
      May 1, 2016 at 4:33 pm · Reply

      The Terremoto sounds cool! This was a great post about drinks from this country, great job!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 1, 2016 at 7:37 pm · Reply

        Thanks so much Kim. So glad you enjoyed the reading the post. The Terremoto is really good…though sweet and strong 🙂 Cheers!

    13. Joanae King ( naetorious.com)
      May 1, 2016 at 8:15 pm · Reply

      I’ve never tried any of these yummy drinks, but you sure are tempting me!

    14. Mags
      May 1, 2016 at 10:20 pm · Reply

      Great list. I hadn’t heard of some of these before. I love Pisco Sours though! I prefer the Chilean way of making them, but mostly because egg whites in drinks kinda creep me out.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 2, 2016 at 1:01 am · Reply

        Thanks for your comments. Glad you now know about these Chilean traditional drinks 🙂 Love Pisco Sours as well and you can’t taste the egg whites in the Peruvian ones 🙂 Cheers!

    15. Hannah
      May 2, 2016 at 12:11 am · Reply

      The Huesillo looks amazing! I love that they use fresh peaches like that. I’m always a sucker for peaches.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 2, 2016 at 1:02 am · Reply

        Thanks Hannah, actually the peaches they use are dried and then they rehydrate again in the drink. Indeed, pretty yummy and filling. Appreciate your comments!

    16. Karla
      May 2, 2016 at 2:49 am · Reply

      I always have a problem on which drinks to try in a country, this gives a good selection. I think I like the pineapple one.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 2, 2016 at 7:04 pm · Reply

        Thanks Karla! Glad you like the drink selection 🙂 Yes the pineapple one/Terremoto is very popular and very unique!

    17. Tandy | Lavender and Lime
      May 3, 2016 at 1:41 am · Reply

      The plain red wine would be my choice 🙂

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 3, 2016 at 7:34 pm · Reply

        Love your choice Tandy! Chilean know their red wines 🙂

    18. anna
      May 12, 2016 at 2:57 am · Reply

      Oh wow! One pitcher of Borgoña please. That sounds absolutely lush! As for the first drink, we have something similar in the Philippines called Halo Halo.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        May 13, 2016 at 12:04 am · Reply

        Hi Anna! Borgoña is such an easy drink, I was so surprised to like it so much 🙂 Halo Halo sounds interesting! I heard it for the first time in a recent food twitter chat. Can’t wait to try it, we’ll be in Manilla in October.

    19. How To Make The Most Of A Local Festival - Authentic Food Quest
      May 13, 2016 at 8:44 am · Reply

      […] Mote con Huesillo is a traditional summertime drink made with wheat and peaches. While it was strange to see a huge peach in the cup, along with wheat, we found it surprisingly refreshing. You can read more about this famous drink and others in our previous post 6 famous Chilean drinks to experience like a local. […]

    20. Bilyana | OwlOverTheWorld
      March 29, 2017 at 4:51 am · Reply

      Such a nice read. Chile is a dream destination for me and I love to experience places through local cuisines, etc. So definitely bookmarking this for my Chile trip. The Mote con Huesillo seems like something I would really like as well the Borgona. Wine with strawberries? Yes, please!

      • Authentic Food Quest
        March 30, 2017 at 10:51 pm · Reply

        Thanks Bilyana for your wonderful feedback. Chile is indeed a wonderful country to visit. So diverse and rich culturally. We really enjoyed our stay there and wish we could have stayed longer. So much to explore and discover. Hope you can get there soon and enjoy some of the amazing drinks and delicious foods. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers!!

    21. Ash
      August 11, 2018 at 12:10 am · Reply

      Peruvian Pisco never has sugar added.

      • Authentic Food Quest
        August 12, 2018 at 4:05 pm · Reply

        Good point, Ash!

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