In hot seasonsto quench their thirst and refresh themselves, there are those who resort to Watermelon water, lemon or hibiscusbut there are also people who opt for tepache, a sweet-tasting fermented drink which could harm the body if consumed in large quantities.
According to Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mexican Gastronomytepache is a drink made from the fermentation of fruits in water. One of its main characteristics is that, depending on the state of the Mexican Republichas different recipes.
Mainly, tepache is prepared with pulp and pineapple peels which are left to ferment in water with piloncillo, cinnamon and cloves for several days. Unlike the fresh watersas the horchatathe drink It has a low level of alcohol.
What does tepache mean?
According to a publication on social networks by Science Dissemination, UNAM, the name of tepache comes from Nahuatl tepatlithat means corn drink.
Its name is due to the fact that, originally, in pre-Hispanic timesthe tepache It was made with corn fermented, but over time the use of tropical and citrus fruits was adopted, with pineapple being the most popular.
Properties: How healthy is tepache?
Dissemination of Science, UNAM mentions in its Facebook account that tepache contains vitamins and probiotics.
My Fitness Pal, a site specialized in physical exercise topics, mentions that a 100 ml tepache contains around 48 calories.
Compared to some sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, tepache may have fewer calories; However, due to its acidic taste, there are people who add sugarlor that changes its nutritional values.
In short, tepache is a drink, whose consumption should be kept moderate due to its sugar and calorie content.
Benefits: What is pineapple tepache used for?
Although tepache is only seen as a refreshing drink, on social networks is reported to have some benefits in health, especially in the digestive system.
Despite this, the reality is that tepache has rarely been analyzed, so there is no evidence to support its supposed positive results for the body.
Possible effect on the digestive system
Due to its pineapple contenttepache contains bromelainan enzyme that has been linked to positive effects on the body.
The National Center For Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH) portal explains bromelain It is used to treat digestive problemsbut there is still not enough research to confirm this effect.
Furthermore, there are not enough studies to ensure that tepache maintains the bromelain content of pineapple.
Contains probiotics
Healthline mentions that probiotics They are elements that reduce the risk of health problems such as diarrhea or indigestion, but the tepache has not demonstrated these abilities in any study.
Possible effect on the immune system
The publication of Science Dissemination, UNAM shares that the vitamins in tepache have been related to induction of antibody productionproteins of the immune system that are responsible for defending the body.
However, more research is still required on this possible effect of tepache vitamins.
Contraindications: What happens if I take tepache daily?
Due to the lack of studies on tepache, there is no daily recommendation how much you can take per day, it is best to maintain moderate and occasional consumption due to its content in sugar.
It is a source of sugar
Despite its sweet taste, sugar is one of the compounds that harms the body the most when consumed excessively.
The portal of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health mentions that sugar can cause cardiovascular problems, damage to the bone system, gout and even diabetes.
Stomach problems
In some studies, pineapple bromelain has been shown to can cause problems in the digestive systemsuch as stomach pains, diarrhea and vomiting.
Nonetheless, the possible effects have not been analyzed of the tepache pineapple in the stomach.
Contains alcohol
Although tepache is a drink with low alcohol levelsit should not be consumed in high doses due to its possible complications.
In conversation with The New York Timesspecialist Tim Naimi assured that, even a little, alcohol harms health.
“Alcohol is harmful to health at very low levels,” explains Naimi.
What is the recipe for tepache?
Currently there are endless recipes to make pineapple tepache; However, almost all of them agree on the use of cinnamon, clove and sugar cane.
At the beginning of August 2020, the social networks of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) of Jalisco shared a video with a recipe for the drink, these are the steps:
- Before the preparation process, all ingredients must be washed.
- Then the following should be placed in a container: several pineapple peels, three cloves, a cinnamon stick and piloncillo.
- Once all the ingredients are in the pot, add water until it reaches the top and cover the container.
- Two days later, the mixture should be uncovered to remove excess foam.
- Once the three days are up, you can consume the tepache in a glass with ice.
