chicha morada

The chicha morada is a typical non-alcoholic drink from Peru. It is based on Purple Corn (also called purple corn ) produced, which is known as maiz morado commonly.

Origin and distribution

The Purple corn is a variety of ordinary corn, which records as a special feature a strong dark purple color around the piston. The color comes from the high content of anthocyanins. The Purple Corn grows mainly in the Andes, since it requires special climatic conditions to develop the characteristic purple coloring full. The corncobs dry on the plant and are then freed from the Lischblättern and brought to market.

Even the natives of Peru before the Inca period used the Purple Corn, as grave finds and clay objects occupy. The current formulation is a result of the culinary style blend that originated in Peru with the arrival of the Spaniards and African slaves.

The drink is ubiquitous in Peru, especially in the capital, Lima. As a non- alcoholic version of Chicha it may be served to children and is in competition with soft drinks integral part of any social event.

Preparation

Traditionally, the purple maize is washed as a whole and then boiled in water together with pineapple and quince peel, cinnamon and cloves until the corn kernels are soaked and the liquid has been taken, the dark purple color. The liquid is sieved, flavored with sugar and lemon juice and served cold. It is common to serve it with tiny chunks of apple.

A traditionally prepared chicha morada is to taste far different from synthetic drinks preparations which present themselves on the market as well as " chicha morada ", but include as a tasty ingredient wearing synthetic flavors, along with food dyes. In contrast, offered ( free of sugar, preservatives and flavorings ) on the market chicha morada from purple corn both in bottles ( with a high proportion of granulated sugar and optionally preservatives and flavorings ) and in filter bags. Although the latter have to be boiled, but in contrast to the traditional preparation they need only a few minutes instead of almost an hour cooking time and provide more flexibility in the preparation shape.

Accretion properties

Cold is served chicha morada which is known as a highly effective refreshing and appreciated.

A hypotensive effect is chicha morada popularly attributed, although it has not yet been clearly demonstrated in clinical studies.

Subject of research, however, is the high amount of antioxidants. Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan found a positive effect in inhibiting the development of colorectal cancer and the antioxidant protection of the liver in rats. Researchers at the Ohio State University experimented with human cancer cell cultures with the addition of various anthocyanins. This raises the anthocyanins of purple corn as the strongest of all substances studied, not only in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, but even in their destruction.

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