Papelón con Limón Recipe: The Venezuelan Limeade

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Before sodas and pasteurized juices, papelón con limón was the refreshing beverage of choice in Venezuela, my home country. Made with only three ingredients: papelón, fresh lime juice, and water, papelón con limón in the Venezuelan limeade.

two large glasses with papelón con limón, a large glass pitcher with the same beverage, and in the background, a basket with limes, by enrilemoine.

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Two panela discs and a basket of limes, to make Venezuelan paplón con limón, by enrilemoine.

What is papelón?

Papelón is a raw form of pure cane sugar, darker than brown sugar and less processed. Across Latin America, this unrefined sugar cane is referred to by various names. In Venezuela, besides papelón, we call it panela. In Mexico, they call it piloncillo; hence that’s the most common name in the US. Other names are rapadura and chancaca.

Two papelon or piloncillo disks, in a glass bowl, by enrilemoine.

​No matter the name, to produce papelón, you only need one ingredient: sugar cane juice. That juice is cooked at high temperatures until it forms fairly dense molasses. Then, that thick syrup is poured into molds in different shapes, mainly cones, rectangular blocs, or spherical caps, where it is left to dry until it solidifies.

A glass pitcher half full of water with papelón inside, to make Venezuelan papelón con limón. There are some limes in a basket in the background, by enrilemoine.

​In our Venezuelan cuisine, papelón is a main ingredient used not only for sweet dishes but for savory ones too. I personally use it to make the most traditional Venezuelan recipes, including: asado negro, black beans, hallaca stew, hallaca dough, arepitas dulces, torta de plátano, polvorosa de pollo (Venezuelan chicken pot pie), pan de jamón, golfeados and so on.

What is papelón con limón?

Limes, cut in halves, on a wooden cutting board, with a knife, by enrilemoine.

Back to our papelón con limón or aguapanela as it’s know in Colombia. Along with chicha de arroz, this is the most traditional Venezuelan beverage. It’s the most refreshing drink you can dream of. It’s perfect for a hot summer day. It has a dark color and unique flavor. It’s sweet, and the fresh lime juice makes it citrusy and thirst-quenching.

A lime, cut in half, by enrilemoine.

Other common names for this delicious concoction are guarapo de papelón con limón, or agua de papelón.

How to make papelón con limón?

Large pitcher with water and papelón, small pitcher with lime juice. There are a couple of limes in a basket too.

This delicious summer drink requires water, papelón, and limes. Even if the recipe’s name calls for lemons (in Spanish, limón means lemon), this drink is made with the juice of fresh limes. You can make it with lemon juice, but to honor the Venezuelan tradition, make it with limes.

papelon con limon by enrilemoine 9

To make this drink, some people make a papelón syrup. Others add boiling water to a resistant glass pitcher and mix it with the piloncillo. Others grate the panela to help it to dissolve in water. 

papelon con limon by enrilemoine 11

My method is simpler. I soak the panela discs (I prefer 4-ounce disks) in cold water, and 30-40 minutes later, I stir everything until the papelón is completely dissolved. Then, I add the lime juice and lots of ice. That’s it!

​If you want to make this in advance, add papelón and water to a large pitcher, and refrigerate it overnight. Then, before serving, stir, add the lime juice and ice.

Where to buy papelón or piloncillo?

papelon con limon by enrilemoine 10

You can buy papelón, panel, or piloncillo in your local Latin grocery store. In most supermarkets, it can be found in the international food section. You can also buy it online.

Best papelón con limón recipe

Following is my recipe. I hope you like it as much as we do.

papelon con limon the venezuelan limeade

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papelon con limon by enrilemoine 1
5 from 11 votes

Papelón con Limón: The Venezuelan Limeade

Before sodas and pasteurized juices, papelón con limón was the refreshing beverage of choice in Venezuela. It is made with only three ingredients: papelón, fresh lime juice, and water, and it's condidered the Venezuelan limeade.
Prep Time5 minutes
Resting time45 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 105kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 4- oz discs papelón
  • 6 cups of water
  • 1/2 cup lime juice

Instructions

  • Add water to a large pitcher.
  • Add papelón and let stand for 30 minutes up to an hour.
  • Stir until the papelón is completely dissolved.
  • Add lime juice and ice cubes.
  • Serve over fresh ice.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Papelón con Limón: The Venezuelan Limeade
Amount Per Serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.01g0%
Saturated Fat 0.001g0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.004g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g
Sodium 9mg0%
Potassium 18mg1%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Sugar 25g28%
Protein 0.1g0%
Vitamin A 8IU0%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 0.2mg1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Cocktails and Drinks
Cuisine: Venezuelan
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: agua de panela recipe, aguapanela recipe, guarapo de papelón con limón, guarapo de papelón recipe, how to make papelón con limón, Papelón con limón, papelón con limón recipe
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5 from 11 votes (1 rating without comment)
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