Olasul

Inspiration: Chicha Morada

Welcome to the first post in our Inspiration series, which will take a look at the stories and places behind our products. Our Chicha Morada short is named after one of Peru's famed national drinks, a sweet and refreshing non-alcoholic drink made mainly from purple corn, which is renowned for its health benefits. In the case of Chicha Morada, it's boiled with quince, pineapple, cinnamon and clove and sweetened with lime juice and sugar. Like iced tea in the south, you'll find Chica Morada served in restaurants and homes across Peru and available canned and bottled in grocery stores. While fresh purple corn is hard to find in the US, it's possible to make do with purple corn kernels that are widely available online or in stores. Pour a glass from an iced pitcher after an hour or two in the salty surf, and you'll see why we created these shorts. Check out the recipe below:

^{Chicha Morada is commonly served with apple slices.} 

Ingredients 
3-4 purple corn cobs
1 quince, peeled & cut in 16 pieces
Rind and core of half a golden pineapple
2 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
4 liters of water
1 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice

Preparation

1. Combine purple corn cobs, quince, pineapple, cinnamon stick, cloves and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil.
2. Turn down heat and simmer until the color darkens and the mixture begins to reduce in volume, about 45 minutes.
3. Cool and strain completely. Stir in sugar until dissolved.
4. Cool completely. Add lime juice.
5. Chill and serve.

^{The finished product is a deep purple filled with spice and fruit flavors.} 

^{Our version of the Chica Morada.}