Michelada

Michelada

Primary alcohol by volume	Beer
Served	In a chilled, salt-rimmed glass
Standard garnish	Lime
Standard drinkware	Pint glass
Commonly used ingredients	Mix the beer with tomato juice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and Worcestershire sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, or hot sauce.

Michelada (Spanish pronunciation: [mitʃeˈlaða]) is a Mexican cerveza preparada made with beer, lime juice, tomato juice (or Clamato), and assorted sauces, spices, and peppers can be added for a Chelada .^[1] It is served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass.^[2] There are numerous variations of this beverage throughout Mexico and Latin America.^[2][1]

In Mexico, Micheladas are considered a good remedy for hangovers. There are different types of variations of Micheladas; for example in Mexico City, the most common form of a Michelada is prepared with beer, lime, salt, and particular hot sauces or chile slices. There are several other optional ingredients such as Maggi, Worcestershire sauce, Chamoy powder, Chile Serrano, Clamato, or slices of orange. The outcome can be explosive and somewhat irritant to the untrained stomach.

Variations

There are a variety of types of Micheladas. For example, a Clamato contains clam juice and tomato juice. A Chelada contains simply lime and originally sea salt, but often simply regular table salt. A cubana contains Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, chile and salt. Depending on the region of Mexico the preparation will vary. For people unfamiliar with the local area, it is best to ask how the Micheladas are prepared before ordering if there is concern for what ingredients will be used. In some regions Chelada becomes Michelada, and vice versa.

Michelada Origins

There are two popular versions of the origin of Michelada,

Michel Ésper from San Luis Potosi, Mexico in Club Deportivo Potosino,

Michel Ésper used to ask for his beer with lime, salt, ice and a straw, in a special cup called "chabela", as if it were a beer lemonade. The members of the club started asking for lemonades as Michel´s lemonade, eventually giving the name Michelada. As time went by other sauces have been added to the original recipe. Today, it contains the same ingredients as Chelada but contains ice on the rocks and chili powder on the rim. ^[3]

The word Michelada is the combination of the words "mix" and "chela"

The word "chela" is a popular way to call a beer in Mexico. It comes from the English word "chill". When you ask for a chela you are asking for a cold beer. "Mix" comes from the mix of sauces added to the beer. Therefore putting the two words together Mix-chela sounds like Michelada. Others argue that it stands for "Mi Chela Helada", meaning "My cold beer".^{[attribution needed]}

Commercialization

Recently, major U.S. beer producers have begun marketing cervezas preparadas, illustrating the wide variety of recipes in the Chelada/ Michelada category and to serve its popularity among Latin American population in the country. For example, Miller Brewing Company produces Miller Chill which is a "Chelada-style light lager with a hint of salt and lime.".^[4] Going a different route, Anheuser-Busch is manufacturing Budweiser Chelada and Bud Light Chelada as a combination of lager, clamato, lime juice, and salt.^[5]

See also

• Cerveza preparada
• Shandy
• Beer cocktail

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Maggie Savarino (2009-07-15). "Search & Distill: Michelada Is Your Standby Beer, Only Better - Page 1 - Food - Seattle". Seattle Weekly. http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-07-15/food/michelada-is-your-standby-beer-only-better/. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Mexican companies pushing spicy beer mixes in US mkt | Modern Brewery Age | Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. 2005-12-19. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3469/is_51_56/ai_n16030172/?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
3. ^ "Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 2003-04-27. http://articles.latimes.com/2003/apr/27/magazine/tm-entertaining17. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
4. ^ "Flash Detect: Miller Chill: Light Lime Beer". Miller Chill. https://www.millerchill.com/Default.aspx#/100-calorie-light-beer. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
5. ^ "Budweiser Chelada". Ratebeer.com. http://www.ratebeer.com/Brewers/Beer/Beer-Reviews-74833.htm. Retrieved 2011-01-25.