15 November 9-15, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Coquito Season Where to find the locally made holiday treat. BY NICOLE DANNA I f you love coconut, creamy cocktails, eggnog, and rum, chances are you love coquito. Often described as the Puerto Rican version of eggnog, it shows up mid-No- vember and finds its way to the table at holiday parties throughout December and January. The season for this tropical boozy nog is in full swing and will be shared among friends and family all the way through Día de los Reyes (Three Kings’ Day) and the island’s January 20 San Sebastián street festival. The drink, whose name translates to “little coconut,” is a decadently rich concoction made especially for the holiday season. Tradi- tionally, the recipe starts with a blend of coco- nut cream, evaporated milk, and condensed milk seasoned with vanilla, holiday spices, and — of course — plenty of rum. Most puertorrique- ños will tell you it’s the toquecito — that unique variation found in every family recipe — that makes each family’s batch of coquito special. In some households, it’s the addition of eggs or shaved coconut. In others, it’s an added touch of star anise or maybe rum-soaked raisins. While coquito is traditionally meant to be shared as a gift, these days there are plenty of ways to get your coquito fix without a family hookup. Miamians have established busi- nesses peddling bottles of their unique family recipe — many with innovative riffs and non- traditional flavors — marketing their goods via Instagram, online, or through local gro- cers and markets. In the Magic City, where Latin culture abounds, the coquito game has expanded to become more than just an entrepreneurial en- deavor. If it’s a locally made coquito you’re af- ter, here are seven local brands offering their take on this festive holiday treat in Miami. Candela Mamajuana Ready to mix it up this year with a spirited gift idea? Aspiring mixologists can spice up the holiday season with the coquito kit from Miami-based Candela Mamajuana. Although Candela is made in the Dominican Republic, it makes for the perfect coquito mixer. The naturally spiced rum is distilled from fresh sugar cane juice instead of molasses and aged in bourbon casks where it’s infused with natural spices, creating an incredibly smooth and flavorful rum. That means you won’t need to add cinnamon, nutmeg, or clove — the rum provides all the necessary spice. The kit arrives with two bottles of Candela’s special coquito mix (made with vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut), four limited-edition branded shot glasses, plus a bottle of Candela Mamajuana’s signature spiced rum. Kits cost $49 each. Order at drinkcandela.com. Coquito King 340 Tasheem Stevens fell in love with coquito when sneaking the sweet libation back in St. Thomas at the age of 16. At 21, Stevens started making coquito for his friends. When he moved to Miami, that passion turned into a business. Stevens, truly Miami’s coquito king, makes his coquito with five different spirits, including coconut rum from St. Croix. His co- quito comes in 50 flavors, including hot cin- namon, eggnog, pumpkin spice, gingersnap, marshmallow cream, and cheesecake. The best sellers, according to Stevens, are pista- chio, red velvet, and banana creme. Prices for the traditional flavors start at $25 for a pint and rise to $100 for a gallon jug. Specialty fla- vors cost an additional $2. Delivery fees start at $5 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. To order, call 340-643-3250 or visit @coquitok- ing340 on Instagram. Coquito Miami 305 It’s Jess Orta’s Cuban roots that set Coquito Miami 305 apart from all the rest. By adding a few extra spices to the mix — along with some very Miami flavors — Orta delivers a Cuban-inspired ode to this traditional holi- day treat. Owing to her bartending back- ground, flavors like pastelito de guayaba and cafecito shine thanks to homemade marma- lades and coffee crafted in small batches. Don’t miss the “Coquiña,” her piña colada-in- spired recipe that adds a hint of pineapple to the mix. Bottles are priced at $25 each. For $10 more, all flavors are available with vegan ingredients using coconut milk and almond milk. Keep an eye out for her forthcoming ice cream truck, which will serve frozen coquito treats in different flavors across Broward and Miami. Order online at coquitomiami305.com. Holiday Coquito by Leti Miami teacher Leti Monteagudo started making coquito at home in 2014 as a hobby, but as the popularity of her drinks grew among friends and family and the word got out on social media, she knew she had some- thing special in her hands. Today, she sells her coquito in a variety of seasonal flavors year-round, including guava for Valentine’s Day, a tropical rendition during the summer months, pumpkin spice for the fall, and signa- ture takes like colada, Nutella and classic co- quito for the holiday season. Coquito enthusiasts can opt for the 150-milliliter, large-format bottle, or the ten-ounce “mini” that’s become a popular gift for family gather- ings and holiday parties. Order via Instagram, or text 786-759-9302. Koh-Kee-Toh With its easy-to-pronounce phonetical spelling, this longtime local brand has been offering up a traditional recipe to Miami coquito lovers since 2018. The founders, who go by the aliases “Ximena” and “Alexander,” say they share their family recipe for traditional coquito while also mixing up fun flavors like Nutella and pumpkin spice. Bottles are $25 for 700 milliliters and $15 for 350 milliliters. Bulk orders of 24 bottles or more must be placed ten days in advance. Local delivery and pickup are available. Order at kohkeetoh.com. Mabel’s Kitchen Hialeah-based Mabel’s Kitchen is a catering company that turns out cakes and desserts in unique flavor combinations. This year, in ad- dition to making classic Puerto Rican coquito with fresh nutmeg, they are offering a sea- sonal coquito pie. Meant to be served cold, the pie starts with a cookie crust made of Ma- ria cookies with bits of pecans and walnuts and topped with cool coquito-based mousse. The sweet treat pairs very well with coffee and will certainly make coquito and dessert fans happy alike. Local pickup is available, as well as delivery for a small fee. Orders can be placed at mabels-kitchen.com. Mike Cabrera Coquito Mixologist Fort Lauderdale bartender Mike Cabrera recently began batching up his version of coquito, offering locals a chance to sample his unique recipe. Cabrera says he learned to love coquito from his mother, who immigrated from Cuba to Puerto Rico before coming to Miami. Although she has her version of coquito, Cabrera has given his recipe yet another unique twist, offering a plethora of unique flavors seasoned with fresh-grated spices. Flavors are created using fresh ingredients and include pistachio, cookies and cream, Nutella, Reese’s peanut butter cup, and pumpkin spice. Bottles are priced at $25 (classic), $30 (flavored), and $35 (limited-release flavors). Local pickup is available from 4 to 8 p.m. in Plantation seven days a week November through January. Order via Instagram. Neda’s Coquito Luz Nazario’s coquito business isn’t just a cute name. It’s actually an acronym for “no es de abuela.” In English, it means “not your grandmother’s coquito.” Instead, her sea- sonal handcrafted beverage is vegan-friendly, a recipe derived from her Puerto Rican roots that is not only egg-, dairy-, and gluten-free — but also free from added rum, if you choose. This year, Nazario’s “Coquito in a Box” lets you add your spirit of choice at home. The kit includes preparation instructions and serves six people. Prefer the work be done for you? Neda’s Coquito bottles are made to order and are available for curbside pickup and delivery in South Miami from November 1 through December 21. Kits are $25 each. Order via email at [email protected], or pur- chase kits on Etsy. [email protected] ▼ Café Miami Coquito 305 photo Bottles of Miami Coquito 305 THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO GET YOUR COQUITO FIX WITHOUT A FAMILY HOOKUP.
