Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With Sassy Sippers

Whether you're Mexican or not, Cinco de Mayo is a great reason (or excuse) to enjoy some of the bountiful beverages from our neighbors down south.

For adult beverages, the liquor of choice, of course, is tequila. The blue agave, the plant from which tequila is distilled, calls Mexico home. There's even a drink named after the holiday:

Cinco de Mayo

2 ½ oz. anejo or white tequila
1 oz. grenadine
1 oz. Rose's lime juice
Shake well with lots of ice. Strain into glass. Garnish with fresh lime wedge if desired.

Of course, there's the Margarita -- the cool tequila sipper with a shady past.

But here are a couple of nonalcoholic sippers that would also be perfect at any Cinco de Mayo celebration.

This first one is from Annie Dubois, who runs a Web site about Tex-Mex food.

Mexican Tepache

1 whole fresh pineapple
12 c. water
21 oz. brown sugar
1 stick cinnamon
3 whole cloves

Wash the pineapple; remove stalks at each end; cut pineapple into large cubes, including the rind. Place the pineapple cubes in a large (lidded) container and add 8 cups of water, all the brown sugar, cinnamon and the cloves.

Cover and let rest at room temperature for 48 hours. Strain this resulting liquid (the "Tepache") into a new, clean container and add the remaining 4 cups of water. Let rest another 12 hours. Strain again, adding 3 cups water.

Serve cold with ice cubes and fresh fruit slices.

Another easy and refreshing beverage from our neighbors to the south is the Licuado. A popular alternative to soft drinks in Mexico, the Licuado combines fresh fruit, milk and honey or sugar. It is blended to a froth. Think of it as the Mexican equivalent to the smoothie.

Licuado de Leche

1 c. milk
1 ½ tbsp. sugar or to taste
¾ c. fresh fruit such as banana, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, strawberries, watermelon or guava

Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. Strain the liquid through a sieve to remove seeds or fibrous bits.

When a Licuado is made with water instead of milk, it is called a Licuado con Agua. These concoctions usually have a slightly higher concentration of liquid to fruit and are normally sweeter.

Personally, I love mango Licuados. But then again, I love pretty much mango anything.

It never hurts to slip a little tequila in your licuado, either. It's a sure-fire way to make you say "Olé!"