5 Unique Drinks To Try In Costa Rica

While drinking a lot of water is crucial when adventuring around Costa Rica, don’t forget to unwind and try some of the country’s delicious traditional beverages. From sweet and creamy to buzz-provoking, these seven drinks are a delightful way to wet your whistle.

* Agua dulce

Though Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, agua dulce is the traditional breakfast drink of choice. This hot beverage is made by boiling water or heating milk and adding a piece of tapa de dulce, which is made from a liquid extracted from sugarcane that has been heated and placed in a mold to harden. It is similar to a hardened chunk of brown sugar.

* Agua de Sapo

Agua de Sapo (toad water) is a cold and refreshing sugarcane drink. This sweet beverage is made with tapa de dulce, lime or lemon juice and fresh ginger. Agua de Sapo is traditionally served on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

* Resbaladera

Resbaladera is a cold and creamy drink that is traditionally made in the northern region of Costa Rica. Resbaladera is made with rice, barley, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, water, milk and nutmeg. There are several steps to creating this delicious drink, but the process is simple and worth trying. If not, at least order one to try it.

* Batidos

Batidos are smoothies. However, Costa Rica’s versions are unique, thanks to the extraordinary selection of exotic and locally grown fruit in the country. The tropical climate is conducive to year-round fruit production and extreme biodiversity, resulting in a wide range of rare varieties. Batidos are very popular concoctions made with either water or milk and your choice of one or more fruits, including pineapple, watermelon, papaya, guanabana, bananas, strawberries and passionfruit.

* Jugo de tamarindo

This sweet and refreshing juice is made from tamarind, a tree that produces bean-like pods that are filled with seeds and encapsulated in a fibrous pulp. When the fruit is ripe, the juicy pulp takes on a paste-like consistency and a sweet-sour flavor. The paste is removed from the pods and boiled with water and sugar. The mixture is put through a strainer to remove the seeds and fibers, and the juice is chilled. Jugo de tamarindo is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties that are said to help prevent cancer and heart disease.