Morir Sonando (or “to die of thirst”) is one of the most popular drinks in Venezuela, especially during Caracas Carnival.
It has been said that Morir Sonando was born in the 19th century when President Carlos Andrés Pérez was forced to flee from his home country by the Spanish army after an attempt on his life.
While fleeing through the jungle he became thirsty and drank water from a nearby river.
The water tasted so sweet and refreshing that he ordered it to be served as a cool beverage to all people who were accompanying him.
The drink quickly spread throughout the entire region and soon became known as Morir Sonando or dying of thirst.
Today, Morir Sonando is considered to be the national drink of Venezuela.
What Inspired You To Create This Recipe?
I wanted to write about something I love doing but never had time to do before – making cocktails!
As a child, my mother always told me how much she loved drinking lemonade.
I would go out into our garden and pick lemons and make her lemonade every summer day while playing outside with my friends.
So, many years later, I decided to try to recreate the taste of those childhood days with a cocktail called Lemonade & Lime.
It is a classic combination of citrus fruits, lime juice, simple syrup, and sparkling wine.
After getting feedback from some readers, I decided to branch out and give them more recipes like these.
So, here I am introducing another drink that we call Morir Sonando.
What Are The Key Ingredients In This Dish?
There are many different variations of how the drink can be prepared but they usually consist of three main components:
- Orange Juice – Orange juice gives the drink its color and flavor. It should preferably come from organic oranges. If drinking fresh squeezed orange juice, make sure not to add any preservatives.
- Milk – Milk adds thickness, richness, and creaminess to the drink. Many recipes call for whole milk while others prefer low-fat evaporated milk. Some also recommend using powdered skimmed milk instead of regular evaporated milk.
- Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness to the drink. Most recipes use granulated sugar but some recipes may call for brown sugar. Brown sugar will give the drink more depth of flavor.
What Are The Steps Involved In Making This Dish?
First, you need to make the base of your drink by mixing together the following ingredients:
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 cups freshly squeezed oranges
- 7-8 cubes ice cream (optional)
If you want more sweetness, add 1/3 cup honey instead of sugar.
Then mix everything up well until smooth.
To serve, pour into glass (preferably tall).
Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves if desired.
Now let’s take a look at each step involved in making Morir Sonando.
What Is The History Behind This Dish?
A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Venezuela and experience their culture firsthand.
One of my favorite activities while there was to explore old neighborhoods in search of traditional foods. In some cases we even got a chance to speak to local residents about how they prepared these dishes.
One such dish was Morir Sonando.
It turns out that this drink has its roots in Spain where it was first introduced to Venezuelans by immigrants.
These days, many restaurants sell a version of this drink which contains less sugar than the original recipe but still tastes delicious!
How Would You Describe The Taste Of This Dish?
This drink can be described as a combination between soda pop and lemonade.
It consists of three parts:
- Orange Juice – Sweetened with sugar, this part gives the drink its characteristic flavor. Addition of salt will also make the juice sweeter.
- Milk – A basic ingredient of any good drink, milk adds sweetness without changing the citrusy characteristics of the juice.
- Ice – Although not necessary, adding cubes of ice to your glass will improve the overall drinking experience.
What Are Some Of The Health Benefits Of This Dish?
One of the main ingredients used to make Morir Sonando is orange juice.
Orange juice contains vitamin C which helps boost your immune system because it fights off viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms.
Vitamin C also promotes healthy skin and hair growth.
If you tend to have dry skin and/or brittle nails, drinking plenty of fresh-squeezed orange juice can help improve these issues.
Another ingredient found in Morir Sonando is milk.
Milk provides calcium which strengthens bones and teeth while helping regulate blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
It also improves muscle tone, reduces cholesterol levels, and increases energy.
In addition, milk is a good source of protein, vitamins B12 and D, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium.
Drinking milk regularly can provide many more health benefits such as boosting immunity, reducing stress, improving sleep quality, and preventing constipation.
Sugar is another key component of Morir Sonando.
Sugar is essential for maintaining proper body functions such as brain function, digestion, and metabolism.
Sugar also plays a role in regulating moods and providing energy in times of need.
However, too much sugar intake may cause diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and tooth decay.
Therefore, moderation is always recommended.
Ingredients for Morir Sonando Recipe
- 4 ounces of whole milk
- 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
- Ice cubes
What Are Some Of The Common Misconceptions About This Dish?
Since the beginning, Morir Sonando had several different names, including Morro de Guayra, La Maricha, and El Colacho.
However, today we know it simply as Morir Sonando.
It is also commonly referred to as Guarapo, which means “sugar cane syrup.”
One of the biggest myths surrounding Morir Sonando is its origin story.
Some believe that it originated in Trinidad where the first version of the drink came into existence.
Others say that it started out in Puerto Rico.
In fact, there are two versions of Morir Sonando.
One is prepared using only water, while the other uses only milk or fresh orange juice.
Both recipes have their own set of ingredients but they both share the same name – Morir Sonando.
- Trinidad-style Morir Sonando contains no alcohol, only natural sugars, such as agave nectar, honey, and coconut palm sap.
- Puerto Rican-style Morir Sonando contains rum, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Ingredients and Preparation Methodology
Here is what you need to make this delicious drink:
- Orange juice (fresh)
- Milk
- Sugarcane Syrup
- Coconut milk
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices
How Can This Dish Be Served?
To prepare your own version of Morir Sonando you will need the following ingredients:
- Orange juice
- Milk
- Sugar
- Ice cubes
In addition, if possible, you should use fresh fruits such as lemons, limes, pineapple, etc., which would add additional flavors to the drink.
You may also want to serve the drink in glasses instead of plastic cups since drinking out of plastic cups could potentially lead to harmful bacteria being transferred into the drink.
It is best to pour the drink directly into the glass before serving, rather than pouring it first in a cup and then transferring it into the glass.
What Are Some Of The Unique Selling Points Of This Dish?
There are several reasons why Morir Sonando remains such a well-loved drink among Venezuelans today.
- It is refreshingly cold and tastes like pure nectar.
- It contains no preservatives or artificial additives.
- It is extremely low in calories yet very high in vitamins and minerals.
- It is easy to make at home.
- It is available year round.
Ingredients
In order to prepare Morir Sonando you will need:
- Orange Juice
- Milk
- Sugar
- Ice Cubes
- Water
Instructions
Step 1: Cut up your oranges into half pieces and squeeze out any excess juices before placing them in a bowl.
Step 2: Add two cups of milk and three tablespoons of sugar into a blender and blend until smooth.
Step 3: Pour the mixture into a large glass pitcher and add one cup of ice cubes.
Step 4: Place the blended liquid back into the mixer and slowly stir using a spoon for about five minutes until everything comes together nicely.
Step 5: Serve immediately!
This delicious drink should keep you hydrated for hours.
What Are Some Of The Challenges Involved In Making This Dish?
There are many different ways to make Morir Sonando, but there isn’t one right way to do it.
Many variations exist, including adding various types of fruit juices like pineapple, mango, guava, pomegranate, etc., along with different kinds of syrups like agave syrup, honey, molasses, cane sugar, etc.
But no matter how you choose to prepare your version of Morir Sonando, it will always include milk, as well as white or brown sugar.
This recipe uses both ingredients to create a delicious cold drink that is perfect for any occasion.
- 1 cup of milk
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 3-4 cubes of crushed ice
For best results, use fresh milk straight out of the refrigerator.
If using powdered milk, add enough liquid milk so that the powder dissolves completely.
Ingredients
- 4 cup evaporated milk
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon clear vanilla extract
- 2 cup ice cubes
- 2½ cup orange juice
Instructions
- Juice the oranges. You should drink 360 ml, or approximately 112 cups, of juice.
- To a pitcher, add the ice. The evaporated milk, sugar, and vanilla should be added to the ice and thoroughly mixed.
- When everything is incorporated and just beginning to foam, add the orange juice.
- Distribute equally across 4 glasses.
- Serve each glass immediately after adding an orange wheel as a garnish.
- Enjoy!
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.