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.
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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.
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.
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?
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.
Other common names for this delicious concoction are guarapo de papelón con limón, or agua de papelón.
How to make papelón con limón?
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.
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.
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?
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.
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Papelón con Limón: The Venezuelan Limeade
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
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