Mote con huesillo

Mote con huesillo is a cherished Chilean summer beverage commonly found at street stands or sold by vendor carts. This refreshing, non-alcoholic drink is prepared from a sweet, clear nectar made by cooking dried peaches with sugar, water, and cinnamon. The mixture is then combined with freshly cooked, husked wheat. While the sweetness typically comes from sugar, molasses is occasionally used as a substitute. If the drink is served without the dried peaches, it is termed "descarozados." Occasionally, you might encounter variations with dried prunes, although these are uncommon. Some contemporary versions might even use peach preserves instead of dried peaches.

Both principal ingredients, mote (the wheat) and huesillo (the dried peaches), flourish in climates akin to central Chile's Mediterranean weather. This drink is a summertime favorite, readily available from street vendors or made at home using ingredients from local supermarkets, small stores, and farmers' markets. However, commercially packaged versions are quite rare.

To prepare mote con huesillo, begin by soaking dried peaches overnight to rehydrate them. The next day, cook them in a mixture of sugar and water, often adding cinnamon sticks for extra flavor. Some people prefer to caramelize the sugar separately to impart the syrup with a richer color. While the peaches are cooking, boil the husked wheat until tender. Once everything is ready, combine the mote with the sweetened peach syrup and chill the mixture. Serve it in tall glasses with a dessert spoon, and enjoy this delightful taste of the Chilean summer!