Michelada

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Michelada shot
Type: Mixed drink
Primary alcohol by volume:
Served: On The Rocks
Standard garnish: Lime
Standard drinkware:
Pub glass
Commonly used ingredients:
Preparation: Mix the fresh squeezed lime, worcestershire, teriyaki (or maggi, or soy sauce), hot sauce.
Notes: This is made as a shot that you sip after taking a drink of your beer.

The Michelada is a popular Mexican alcoholic beverage of a genre known in Spanish as cerveza preparada (prepared beer) and in English as a variety of cocktail. There are several variations. In some cases it is similar to a Bloody Mary but containing beer instead of vodka, although a less complicated concoction of Mexican beer with sauces and lime juice added (see recipe below) is also referred to as a Michelada. The drink dates back to the 1940s, when mixing beer with hot sauce or salsa became popular in Mexico. In recent years, the drink has begun to become popular in the United States, and now various ready-made mixes are marketed and sold to US consumers.

Simply mixing beer with tomato juice is a popular version of cerveza preparada, but if lacking the salsa inglesa (Worcestershire sauce) or Maggi sauce, this concoction would usually not be referred as a michelada. If the Michelada has any type of hot sauce in it, in Mexico it may be called a "Michelada Cubana". The name is a double reference to both Cuba and the habanero pepper. The Habanero pepper is named after the capital of Cuba, "La Habana", and is one of the most intensely spicy peppers in the world[1] and so this spicy drink takes its name as a strained reference to both.

Recently, major American beer produces have begun marketing cervezas preparada, illustrating the wide variety of recipes in the Chelada/ Michelada category. For example, Miller_Brewing_Company produces Miller Chill which is a "Chelada-style light lager with a hint of salt and lime".[1]. Going a different route, Anheuser-Busch is manufacturing Bud Light Chelada as a combination of lager, clamato, lime juice, and salt.[2]

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[edit] Origin of Name

The Michelada cocktail is often referred to as a Mexican drink, there is neither a clear nor official origin of the name, but the most wide spread versions say that the name came after Mexico's Revolution General Augusto Michel, from San Luis Potosí in central Mexico who used to drink his beer at his favourite restaurant added with some spicy sauces and lemon juice. The other version of the origin of the name, also pointing to San Luis Potosí, says "Michel Esper" invented it in the "Club Deportivo Potosino".

Another theory is that the name derives from the American beer, Michelob, a popular beer made by Anheuser-Busch and distributed widely in both North America and Central America. In Spanish, the "ch" in Michelob would likely be pronounced like the "ch" in "chair".

Another possible root of the word would be "Mi Chela Helada" meaning "My Cold Beer".

[edit] Recipe (International Readers)

This recipe is the most common way of preparing a Michelada.

In a chilled Salt-rimmed mug or glass pour in 325 mL (12 Fl. oz.) of tomato juice or Clamato. Clamato is becoming more common.

  • A few drops of hot sauce, such as Valentina or Bufalo. McIlhenny's Tabasco sauce is not usually used, as it leaves a slight vinegary aftertaste.
  • A few drops of Worcestershire sauce
  • A few drops of Maggi seasoning or soy sauce.
  • Squeeze a lime wedge (lemon wouldn't be strong nor sour enough).
  • Mix the ingredients in the glass.
  • Slowly add one 325 mL (12 Fl. oz.) Mexican beer (preferably a light beer like Tecate or Dos Equis)

[edit] Recipe (Central Mexico)

 This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

There are big discussions in central Mexico about what is a Michelada since 50% says it's called cubana and the other 50% says it's indeed michelada. Borrachos (drunken Mexicans) can argue the point for hours.

Cubana recipe: (In the state of Jalisco, Mexico it often goes by the name: Russa)

  • Squeeze one green lemon in mug (depending on the lemon's juice you might just use one half).
  • Add salt
  • Add three cubes of ice.
  • Add what ever Mexican beer you want, be careful when serving because salt makes the beer have more foam.
  • Mix it and enjoy your fresh drink.

Michelada recipe:

  • Squeeze one green lemon in mug (depending on the lemon's juice you might just use one half).
  • Add a pinch of salt.
  • Add three ice cubes (iced beer is acceptable in Mexico).
  • A few dashes of Tabasco Sauce.
  • A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
  • Any Mexican beer. (Victoria Beer is a good choice, but it is not exported). Be careful when pouring because the salt will make the beer foam more than usual.
  • Mix and enjoy.

Michelada recipe:

  • Rim double rocks glass with salt
  • Pour 2 parts beer (Mexican is best; sol or tecate) and one part clamato (or tomato juice)
  • Hot sauce to taste
  • Splash of lime
  • sprinkle of salt and pepper (it is important to do this last as the salt will cause the beer to foam)
  • Garnish with lime wedge

The simplified and more oft used Michelada recipe (i.e. the one not served at the tourist hotels):

  • Fill a glass with ice cubes.
  • Add juice of one lime.
  • Add hot sauce or dried chili flakes al gusto.
  • Add a sprinkle of salt, or leave out if the hot sauce is sufficiently salty.
  • Pour in one beer, preferably a European style lager beer that finishes bitter, a variety that includes most Mexican beers. Avoid American style beers that finish sweet.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs Champion Manu Ginobili has a variation of the recipe named for him as the "Manuchelada"

Manuchelada recipe:

  • Rim glass with Twang chili-lime salt
  • Fill with ice in a pint size glass
  • Squeeze the juice of one half lime onto ice
  • Shake half a teaspoon of celery salt and a half of a teaspoon of pepper into glass
  • Add two dashes of worchestire sauce to the mix
  • Add three to five dashes of Tabasco (according to taste)
  • Pour Heineken over mix
  • Shake in large shaker and pour back into glass

Michelada - El Salvador

  • one can of tomato juice
  • two cans of beer
  • hot sauce to taste
  • two limes
  • one tea spoon of salt
  • one table spoon of pepper
  • two dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Michelada - Honduras

  • Rim glass with salt
  • Add dash of worchester sauce
  • One green lemon (lime)
  • Dash of salt
  • Dash of tabasco sauce
  • Dash of black pepper mixed with cumins
  • Fill glass with ice
  • Add Port Royal (local Honduran beer)

Kingchelada - Canada

  • 10 dashes of Tapatio hot sauce
  • 5 dashes worcestshire sauce
  • a squirt of lime juice
  • 4 shakes of pepper
  • 4 oz Clamato
  • pour in 12 oz of domestic beer

[edit] In language

A popular quote "If life gives you limes, make Michelada" was popularized by Olesya Romanovna, inspired on the lemonade quote by Dale Carnegie