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drinks

Mote con Huesillo

The iconic Chilean summer drink - sweet husked wheat and dried peaches in cinnamon syrup. Refreshing and unique, you will find it at every street cart in Santiago.

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

90 min

Total Time

120 min

Servings

8

Ita's Tips

When I was a little girl, the motero would come down our street with his cart, ringing his bell. We would run out with our coins! The secret is the syrup must be very sweet and very cold. Some people make it too watery - no, no, no! It should be like thin honey. And you must eat the mote and huesillo with a spoon while you drink the sweet juice. That is the Chilean way!

Ingredients

  • 200g mote (husked wheat)
  • 200g huesillos (dried peaches)
  • 200g sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 strip orange peel
  • 8 cups water

Instructions

  1. 1

    Soak mote in water overnight. Drain and cook in fresh water until tender, about 1 hour. Drain and set aside.

  2. 2

    Soak huesillos in warm water for 2 hours until plump.

  3. 3

    Make the syrup: boil water with sugar, cinnamon, and orange peel until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.

  4. 4

    Add drained huesillos to the syrup. Simmer gently for 20 minutes until soft but not falling apart.

  5. 5

    Remove from heat and let cool completely.

  6. 6

    Refrigerate until very cold.

  7. 7

    Serve in tall glasses: put mote and one or two huesillos in each glass, fill with cold syrup.

  8. 8

    Serve with a long spoon.