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Thirsty?

Madi Lang

By | October 2, 2009

buenos aires argentina Photo by John Harris

Photo by John Harris

For us BA veterans, long gone are the days of chai lattes and big glasses of fresh squeezed fruit juice. While those who have dollars can afford these treats, those of us earning pesos order from a different menu. Below you’ll find what’s on tap to quench your thirst in Buenos Aires for both the carefree and budget traveler .

Homer no function beer well without.

Beer is very popular in Buenos Aires and you can buy it in all grocery stores and some kioscos. The most common brands are Quilmes, Isenbeck and Brahma, as well as Stella Artois and Warsteiner on occasion. Quilmes is the name of a Buenos Aires suburb where the first cervecería y maltería Quilmes was founded in 1888 by German immigrant, el señor Otto Bemberg. Personally, I think Quilmes is a pretty skanky beer, but don’t repeat that. Quilmes has become a bit of a national symbol for Argentina, with its label patriotically colored blue and white and it’s long-time sponsorship of the national soccer team.

Argentina’s National Drink: Fernet and Cola

Smooth, dark, thick Fernet is a heavy liquor flavored with a number of spices and herbs that differ between brands. There are certain faux-pas surrounding the consumption of this digestif that should be avoided. For example, Fernet is great, but Fernet- Branca is best. The worst Fernet is made by the brand Ottone, and should be avoided at all costs. There are many brands of Fernet, but Branca is hands-down the porteño favorite and serves as a great offering to any party, asado or housewarming. Warning: this drink is very strong and has put many a hair on my chest. Tip: a little Fernet goes a long way.

Wine is fine

Malbec, is the staple vine of the Argentine wine industry. Prices and flavors for these bad boys can range widely. I’m no wine expert, so talk to the guys in the wine stores about what’s the best to buy. Or visit our friends at Anuva wines who provide a solid, cover the bases Argentina wine tasting.

Buenos Aires puts the Tang in Tango

When I arrived in Buenos Aires I was startled to discover that they serve Tang in restaurants here- even the nice ones. Clearly you can get fresh squeezed juice, but you have to pay the price for such luxuries. Those of us who would rather save pesos than spend dollars will be stuck ‘tomando jugo’ (drinking the juice) that comes in powder form from a baggie.

Taking the milk

If you teach English, meet friends with kids or are volunteering you’ll be abreast to the important afternoon ritual of tomando la leche (drinking milk). When it was cool to be British, this afternoon ritual was known as tea time. Now tea and crumpets have been replaced by warm milk served with cookies or alfajores. Milk is sold in cartons or plastic bags called sachets. These milky water balloons are cheaper than alternatives, and you put them in a convenient little plastic holder and cut a tip off one corner. Delish. For some reason, it is impossible to find skim milk in Argentina, so make sure to get leche descremada which is the farthest you can get from leche entera, or whole milk.

Licuados = Milkshake + Smoothie

Licuados are a staple in most restaurants. They are generally the same price as a big glass of juice, but have more ingredients and is therefore better value. You can order this drink with either milk or water (not recommended) and choose a fruit. My favorite is licuado de banana and sometimes I splurge for frutilla (strawberry). If you like shakes and the sort, I suggest buying a licuadora which is a hand held mixer to make your own. They cost about $60 pesos and have a pretty long survival rate.

Water water everywhere and very safe to drink!

Contrary to all reasoning, Buenos Aires has great tap water. Additionally, bottled water is offered everywhere and, thanks to the gimmiky diet-King Ser, in every conceivable flavor. The water that is sold is generally from Argentina and there are even fresh water resources within 100 kilometers of the city.

Soda is not soda, it’s gaseosa

Note that in Buenos Aires (and elsewhere), “soda” means carbonated water and “gaseosa” means soda, pop, or whatever it’s called in your hometown. Coca-Cola certainly has control of the gassy drinks market in Argentina, but those looking to live on the cheap can find alternative brands whose names will give you a good chuckle.

Ma-tay not MAAte
Metal straws dipping into hollowed out gourds full of green stuff- yep, that’s mate. Mate, the popular Argentinean tea drinking ritual can be seen all around town. You can order it in some cafes, but it is meant to be drunk amongst friends in a park, living room, terrace, etc. Give it a shot- expect a slightly bitter drink similar to green tea.

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