Inside The Americas - Hot, steaming beverages on the streets of Lima

This week we visit carts that sell thick, hot drinks early every morning on the streets of Lima, Peru. Many of them are made from grains, herbs or roots that were staples of the Incan civilization that built the largest empire in the Americas before the fifteenth century. We taste two favorite drinks that are made by boiling the native grains rich in protein, quinoa and kwicha, along with apples, pineapples or other fruits. Another popular beverage is ‘maca’ – known as the Peruvian ginseng and considered an aphrodisiac because it improves the quality of sperm. It is prepared by boiling the maca root with water and brown sugar. Add to these the drink invented by Peruvians called ‘emoliente,’ made by boiling nutritious herbs and seeds such as alfalfa. Cheers!