Coquito is a delicious Puerto Rican drink emblematic of Puerto Rico’s Christmas season. Its main ingredient is coconut, a nutritious fruit that is representative of the tropical weather in the island of Puerto Rico.

Some Puerto Ricans commemorate the beginning of Christmas season by drinking a shot of coquito. So, Puerto Ricans may begin savoring this alcoholic drink while they are decorating the Christmas tree or as an after-dinner drink right after Thanksgiving Day. No matter when people begin drinking coquito, one thing is for sure—coquito is a drink that anyone may enjoy solo or among family and friends.

Below we share the coquito recipe of a young Puerto Rican lady who makes a flavorful coquito.

Coquito Recipe:

Yield: 1 liter of coquito
(for two 16 oz. bottles)

Coquito Ingredients:

Aromatic Spices Water:

Yield: ¼ cup
3 cinnamon sticks
5-6 cloves (to taste)
3 star anise (optional)
½ cup water to boil

Coquito:

max. ¼ cup Aromatic Spices Water (to taste)
12 oz. cream of coconut
15 oz natural coconut milk
(alternative: organic unsweetened coconut milk in carton)
¼ cup shredded coconut meat
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
8 oz. Puerto Rican white rum
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Directions:

1) Shred the coconut meat of a dried coconut until you get the corresponding amount. Leave the shredded coconut meat in a bowl.

2) Heat the water to boil at medium heat temperature in a saucepan.

3) Once the water is boiling, add the cinnamon sticks, and cloves (to taste). It is optional to add star anise.

4) Let the water, along with the aromatic spices, boil during 20 minutes. Put the lid on the saucepan during the boiling process. Use a mesh strainer to filter the Aromatic Spices Water into a small bowl. Make sure that the resulting yield of the Aromatic Spices Water is not less than ¼ cup.

5) Add the cream of coconut in the blender. Then add the coconut milk, shredded coconut meat, pure vanilla extract, and cinnamon powder. Press the blender’s button to liquefy the ingredients. Let the ingredients liquefy to produce a homogeneous blend (liquefy around 2 minutes).

6) Pour the resulting blend into a crystal clear glass bowl, and mix it with a mixing spoon during 3 minutes. Add little by little the white rum. Once the Aromatic Spices Water is not hot, add little by little the filtered Aromatic Spices Water (to taste and maximum ¼ cup). Make sure that the coquito is homogenous after mixing the ingredients.

7) Pour the coquito in a 1-liter glass bottle. Optional: Add 1 cinnamon stick into the glass bottle. Leave the bottle in the refrigerator during at least 24 hours prior to serving the coquito.

8) After 24 hours in the refrigerator, you may pour the coquito in two 16-ounce glass bottles. You may purchase decorative bottles for your own use or to share your coquito as a gift for your loved ones.

The Puerto Rican behind this coquito recipe is Adriana Santana, who suggests listening to Puerto Rican Christmas music while making coquito. Though we wish that you engage in the adventure of preparing coquito, you may also contact Adriana to place orders to purchase this distinctive alcoholic drink. Besides the traditional coquito, Adriana also elaborates coquito with other flavors such as pistachio, chocolate and pineapple. T: (787) 224-6116.

Though Puerto Ricans traditionally drink coquito during their Christmas season, which really ends by the end of January, you may elaborate coquito anytime. Surprise yourself and your guests!