Canela

How It Is Used

You will find canela throughout Mexican cooking. It is used in beverage such as Cafe de Olla - An earthy mixture of Viennese-roast coffee, cinnamon, anise seeds, and piloncillo (Mexican dark brown sugar).

Canela is a common ingredient in Mexican Chocolate which is used for beverages as well as baking.Cold beverages called aguas frescas frequently use canela. It is also used in soups, stews and other savory dishes such as Mole Poblano.

Featured Recipe - Tepache

A beverage popular in Mexico made from slightly fermented pineapple flavored with piloncillo and canela (cinnamon).

Ingredients
1 mature pineapple (around 3 pounds)
12 cups (3 liters) of water
2 3/4 cups (600 grams ) of piloncillo or brown sugar, packed
1 small stick of canela (about 3 inches)
3 cloves

Instructions

Wash the pineapple completely, clear the stem and cut the rest in big pieces even with the rind.

Place the pieces of pineapple in a big container and add 8 cups (2 lt.) of water, piloncillo, the cinnamon and the cloves.

Cover and let simmer for 48 hours.

Strain the resulting liquid and add the other 4 cups (1 lt.) of water. (Or if you prefer, add 1 cup (1/2 lt.) of ale and let rest another 12 hours.) Strain and add 3 cups (3/4 lt.) of water. Serve cold with ice cubes.