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Curanderismo of northern Peru →

Algarrobina with warm milk

A spoonful of syrup from algarrobo pods in warm milk: in northern Peru a strengthening remedy for coughs and tiredness.

Traditional use

Time
5 minutes
Makes
1 mug
Algarrobo (Peruvian mesquite)

In the dry coastal desert of northern Peru grows the algarrobo, a mesquite tree. Its pods are boiled for hours into a thick, dark syrup: algarrobina. According to Bussmann and Sharon, healers and families use it as a tonic and for coughs, anaemia and tiredness, a spoonful in water or milk.

Ingredients

  • 1–2 tbsp algarrobina (sold in South American shops)
  • 250 ml milk

Step by step

  1. Heat the milk until almost boiling.
  2. Stir in the algarrobina until dissolved.
  3. Drink warm.

Tips

  • In Peru algarrobina also goes into smoothies and cocktails; in milk is the most common way.

Registry

Herbs in this recipe

Read more about effects and safety on each herb’s page.

  • Caution

    South America · Food · № 916

    Algarrobo (Peruvian mesquite)

    Neltuma pallida (syn. Prosopis pallida)

    A thorny tree of the pea family, related to mesquite, with sweet pods full of sugars. With its deep roots the tree holds the dry forest together.

    Curanderismo of northern Peru

Cultures and traditions

Where the herbs come from

The herbs in this recipe also appear in these traditions.