For the second year in a row, Zoraida Graciani, a Puerto Rico born woman who resides in Tobyhanna but works in the Bronx, has won the annual Coquito drink test in New York City. The fifty three year old has been using a recipe passed down by her mother, although she has tweaked the recipe over the years.

Coquito is a rich, intoxicating version of the traditional eggnog. It has been called the “Puerto Rican moonshine”. The Coquito drink test tradition was started by Debbie Quinones eight years ago, when the maker of the best coquito in her Spanish Harlem neighborhood passed away. Quinones wanted to keep the tradition alive and began the search for the best coquito recipe. What started out as only friends and family turned into about 400 people showing up to the competition’s finals at el Museo del Barrio, a Latino arts museum in New York City.

Understandably, Zoraida Graciani and her husband are not sharing the secret ingredients to her mother’s coquito recipe. Not only would they like to keep it a secret because of the competition, but they are hoping to market the recipe in the future as well.

Not sure how to make a Puerto Rican Coquito drink? Here’s a simple recipe I found online:

Ingredients:
* 2 cans coconut cream (or coconut milk)
* 1 can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 can evaporated milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-2 cup rum
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg

Directions:
1. Blend all ingredients in a blender on high for 5 minutes.
2. Refrigerate.
3. Serve cold, sip and enjoy!

Source: Poconorecord, Group Recipes.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 comments

  • Nora

    Hey there, I was reading your post and I just wanted to thank you for putting out such great content. There’s so much junk on the internet these days its difficult to find anything worthwhile. I actually have cooked this recipe before, I got this book last month on recommendation from a friend http://ninjahq.com/go/cookingrecipes and it turned out quite nice! I’m extremely eager to try your variation of it though, it looks fantastic. I think you might enjoy those recipes, they’re very good. Thanks for the article and tips.

    September 14, 2010 at 4:57 am Reply

  • Lucy

    Guavate located south of San Juan is not the only place on the ilsnad for find great lechon (roast pork), but it’s probably the most well known (it’s even been featured on the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations TV show). If you are looking for an authentic, popular with the local place then head to Guavate on a Saturday or Sunday. The area is inundated with lechoneras (roadside cafeterias) whose specialty is seasoned slow roasted whole pig. Traditionally the pig is roasted over an open flame mounted on on a wooden spit called a varita, but now must use a steel spit. The pig is usually roasted for about 6 8 hours which ensures that the pork is pact with flavor, moist and tender. The roast pig is not the only delicacy on the menu; as you will find roast chicken, turkey, morcella (blood sausage) and numerous side dishes, including: rice and beans, rice with pigeon peas, tostones, mofungo, sweet potato and many more. If you happen to be there during the Christmas period you will also see pasteles, arroz con dulce and Puerto Rico’s very own egg nog ‘coquito’.

    November 20, 2015 at 7:14 am Reply