Coquito: A Tropical Twist On The Holiday Classic

NPR | By NPR Staff

Published December 17, 2011 at 7:54 AM EST

Coquito is eggnog, Puerto Rican style, enriched by a delicious addition: a dollop of coconut.

Coquito, an eggnog made with rum and coconut, is as integral to a Puerto Rican Christmas as presents under the tree.

In New York on Saturday, 12 coquito makers are battling to be this year's Coquito Masters champion. It's the 10th year of the contest. Trolleys will take fans to different locations in Spanish Harlem to sample coquito and vote for their favorite drinks in blind taste tests.

Puerto Ricans tend to keep their coquito recipes top-secret, according to Debbie Quinones, founder of the International Coquito Federation. Breaking with that tradition, here's a recipe from Ellie Heinzman, mother of Weekend Edition producer Elaine Heinzman.

NPR Staff

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