Article Summary: Some of the best Colombian drinks include aguardiente, café tinto, aguapanela, canelazo, kumis, lulada, avena colombiana, jugos naturales, champús, refajo, and chicha.
We’re obviously biased, but Colombia is truly a beautiful country. With its culture and history stretching back thousands of years, it has emerged as one of South America’s most iconic countries, thanks in part to rapid growth and progressive ideals.
Still, Colombia is a country rooted in tradition, and many of those traditions revolve around the colorful food and drinks native to Colombia, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
Yes, Colombia is known as a global leader in the coffee trade, but it’s also a major producer of aguardiente, and it’s known for bold drinks like café tinto and canelazo.
Today, we’ll explore the most common Colombian drinks, including some that have crossed the borders into other countries and continents.
Table of Contents
11 Incredible Colombian Drinks
Taste the Best Aguardiente: The National Drink of Colombia
Colombian Drinks Frequently Asked Questions
11 Incredible Colombian Drinks
Here are a few popular Colombian drinks you should try:
- Aguardiente
- Café Tinto
- Aguapanela
- Canelazo
- Kumis
- Lulada
- Avena Colombiana
- Jugos Naturales
- Champús
- Refajo
- Chicha
1. Aguardiente
Aguardiente is a rustic and traditional spirit that traces its roots back to when Spanish colonizers landed in the Americas. Commonly made from local sugarcane and flavored with anise, Colombian aguardiente has become a source of cultural pride for people throughout the Andes.
And it’s become a major source of pride for us at Bacan Guaro, as we’ve worked hard to develop a super smooth, premium-quality aguardiente that’s become the most awarded aguardiente in the world.
Check it out for yourself:
Aguardiente (sometimes called “guaro”) is the most popular alcoholic drink in Colombia, where it’s often taken as a simple shot, though we can recommend some fantastic aguardiente cocktails if you’d like to add some extra flavor to your celebrations.
And it’s not just Colombians who love aguardiente. Industry leaders—including Bacan Guaro—are spreading the love for aguardiente across the United States.
Tip: If you’ve never tried aguardiente before, learn how to taste it like a connoisseur.
2. Café Tinto
This Colombian take on black coffee has become part of the country’s lifestyle—which makes sense in one of the world’s largest coffee exporters. Café tinto is a strong black coffee that’s frequently served in small sizes—as small as four ounces at a time.
Locals often sweeten it with sugar or panela (unrefined cane sugar, which offers a caramel-like flavor), and it is a common feature in the social structure of Colombia, often appearing during work breaks and while welcoming guests into your home, making it a fixture in the country’s hospitality.
And don’t be surprised to see Colombians make their café tinto with aguapanela, which we’ll discuss next:
3. Aguapanela
Aguapanela is a sweet and versatile drink popular throughout Colombia—and much of South America.
Although it commonly starts by mixing panela in water, locals enjoy a few different variations:
- Hot or cold water
- Enjoyed plain or with other ingredients mixed in, like lime juice, lemon juice, or milk (historically offered to nursing mothers or laborers)
Thanks to the panela, aguapanela has a hint of caramel flavoring.
Though it might sound strange, those who enjoy Augapanela hot sometimes add a chunk of cheese to the mixture, and they allow it to soften as they enjoy their beverage.
4. Canelazo
Canelazo is a hot alcoholic drink found in Colombia and neighboring countries. While there are a few different ways to make canelazo, it’s most commonly a combination of:
- aguardiente
- sugar/panela
- hot water
- cinnamon
Some regions may also include fruit juice.
For Americans, canelazo is similar to a hot toddy, which is typically made from liquor, honey, lemon, and spices.
5. Kumis
Colombian Kumis is traditionally made at home by fermenting cow’s milk, creating a tangy, mildly sweet treat similar to drinkable yogurt.
Kumis has grown in popularity and availability, and now it’s found in grocery stores throughout the country.
While fewer and fewer people still make kumis at home, it’s still a popular option for a refreshing snack or a convenient breakfast drink.
Note: In Asian countries, kumis is traditionally made from mare’s milk.
6. Lulada
The city of Cali is best known as the world capital of salsa music and dancing, but it is also the home of lulada, a popular local drink.
Lulada starts with lulo, a citrusy tropical fruit with a tart, refreshing flavor. To make a traditional lulada, one chops and beats the lulo fruit into a smooth pulp, and it’s then mixed with lime juice, sugar, and water.
Like many drinks on this list, it can also be mixed with alcohol for a more exciting beverage.
7. Avena Colombiana
Avena means “oats” or “oatmeal,” so, as you might guess, avena Colombiana is an oatmeal drink. It’s made by simmering oats, water, and spices like cinnamon, then combining with milk and sugar or panela.
Avena Colombiana is frequently served cold, which makes it a refreshing breakfast drink.
8. Jugos Naturales
Jugos naturales translates to “natural juices,” and it encompasses a wide range of fresh fruit juices popular throughout Colombia.
These are commonly made by mixing fruit pulp with water or milk, then including ice and sugar as desired.
Jugos naturales offers an exciting and colorful array of flavors, and some of the most common include:
- Lulo
- Maracuyá
- Guanábana
- Mora
- Mango
- Guayaba
- Papaya
9. Champús
Despite its name, champús has nothing to do with shampoo. Instead, it’s a thick, fruity drink especially popular in southwestern Colombia, including the city of Cali (where lulada is also popular).
Recipes vary, but Colombian champús is traditionally made with corn, panela, pineapple, lulo, cinnamon, and other spices. The ingredients give it a sweet, fruity flavor and a thicker texture than your typical fruit juice.
Champús is often served cold and is particularly associated with celebrations, street vendors, and traditional Colombian cuisine. If you’re visiting Cali and already planning to try a lulada, consider adding a glass of champús to your list.
10. Refajo
If you love beer and aguardiente, reach for refajo.
Refajo is a refreshing Colombian alcoholic drink traditionally made by combining beer with Colombiana, a popular sweet, carbonated soda with a distinctive fruity flavor.
The result is a light, bubbly beverage with less of the bitterness you’d expect from drinking beer on its own. It’s especially popular at cookouts, parties, and other social gatherings, and it pairs well with grilled meats and traditional Colombian foods.
Some versions also add a splash of aguardiente, giving the drink an extra kick—and combining two of Colombia’s favorite alcoholic beverages in the same glass.
11. Chicha
Chicha is one of the oldest drinks on our list, with roots that stretch back to Colombia’s Indigenous cultures long before the arrival of the Spanish.
Traditionally made by fermenting corn, Colombian chicha can vary considerably depending on where and how it’s prepared. Some versions are relatively sweet and mild, while fermented varieties can contain alcohol and develop a stronger, more complex flavor.
The drink has a particularly rich history in Colombia’s Andean region. Although chicha became less common during the 20th century, it has experienced a cultural revival, with traditional chicherías and festivals helping preserve this centuries-old Colombian beverage.
Taste the Best Aguardiente: The National Drink of Colombia
If you’re going to drink aguardiente, drink the best available: Bacan Guaro.
The 2024 Innovation Award (Sip Awards)
Although we only formed our company in 2024, we’ve already won more awards than any other aguardiente on the market, and our trophy case includes:
- The 2024 Innovation Award (Sip Awards)
- The 2025 Consumers’ Choice Award (Sip Awards)
- Gold at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition (Critics Challenge)
- Gold at the 2025 Sip Awards
- Gold at the 2025 World Spirits Competition
And there are many, many others.
Don’t settle. Try the leading aguardiente today. Our Bacan 24 is lightly sweetened and features notes of anise, while Bacan 29 infuses notes of black pepper and rosemary.
Find Bacan Guaro in a store near you.
Colombian Drinks Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common ingredients in Colombian drinks?
The most popular traditional Colombian drinks often include some combination of coffee, aguardiente, fresh fruit juice or pulp, milk, sugar/panela, and spices (like cinnamon).
What is the national drink of Colombia?
Aguardiente is widely considered Colombia’s national alcoholic drink. Typically made from sugarcane and flavored with anise, the spirit has become deeply connected to Colombian celebrations, traditions, and social gatherings.
What is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Colombia?
Aguardiente is widely considered Colombia’s most popular traditional alcoholic drink. Often called “guaro,” it’s commonly enjoyed as a shot and is especially popular at parties, festivals, and celebrations.
What is the most popular non-alcoholic beverage in Colombia?
Coffee is arguably Colombia’s most famous and popular non-alcoholic drink. Café tinto—a small, strong black coffee—is enjoyed throughout the day and plays an important role in Colombian culture and hospitality.
What do Colombians drink with meals?
Colombians commonly enjoy fresh fruit juices, sodas, water, or aguapanela with meals. Jugos naturales are particularly popular and can feature tropical fruits like lulo, passion fruit, guanábana, or mora.
Do Colombians drink a lot of coffee?
Yes, coffee is extremely popular in Colombia. National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia found that about 96% of Colombians consume coffee, with many drinking 3–4 cups per day throughout most of the week.
That said, Colombians aren’t necessarily among the world’s heaviest coffee drinkers. Countries like Finland, Norway, and Denmark have historically consumed considerably more coffee per person.
Do Colombians drink a lot of alcohol?
Interestingly, Colombians do not drink a lot of alcohol—although they certainly enjoy it. At 4.87 liters per capita, the average Colombian drinks about half of what your typical American consumes throughout the year, and it’s less than in South American countries like Peru and Argentina. However, Colombia is frequently associated with alcohol consumption because alcohol is so closely tied to its traditions and social culture.
