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Chilean Cola de Mono

Prep 10 min
Total 20 min
Ingredients 9
Servings 5

Not even Chileans themselves know how this traditional holiday drink got the name “cola de mono” (monkey’s tail). There are a number of different stories that explain its origin; political theories have even been added to the many renditions. What is very clear, however, is that in Chile it is enjoyed most of all at the end of the year, paired with a good serving of pan de Pascua to welcome in the Christmas season in homes across the country. The base of the drink is milk, coffee, cinnamon and a touch aguardiente. Let’s toast with a cup of cola de mono. Cheers!

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 pinch nutmeg
1 clove
1 tablespoon instant coffee
Aguardiente, to taste
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk

Directions

1

Heat the water with the sugar, stick of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
2

Once boiling, remove the cinnamon stick, nutmeg and clove, and add the instant coffee.
3

Dissolve well before pouring in the aguardiente, to taste, along with the vanilla extract.
4

Remove from heat and let cool.
5

Add the milk and refrigerate until very cold.
6

Bottle and, each time you serve it, garnish your glass with a stick of cinnamon.

You can double or even triple the batch and pour it into decorative bottles to gift to friends during the holiday season.

No nutrition information available for this recipe

Not even Chileans themselves know how this traditional holiday drink got the name “cola de mono” (monkey’s tail). There are a number of different stories that explain its origin; political theories have even been added to the many renditions. What is very clear, however, is that in Chile it is enjoyed most of all at the end of the year, paired with a good serving of pan de Pascua to welcome in the Christmas season in homes across the country. The base of the drink is milk, coffee, cinnamon and a touch aguardiente. Let’s toast with a cup of cola de mono. Cheers!