20 Irresistible Non-Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico You’ll Crave After One Sip
Want to try the best non alcoholic drinks from mexico?
You’re in the right place as I’ve lived in Mexico since 2018, and traveled to more than half the states in the country, so I know Mexico drinks very well!
In this article, I’m going to show you the Top 20 most popular non alcoholic drinks in Mexico that you need to try on your Mexico trip or back home.
In case you think there aren’t many options — there are! From classic cocktails turned into mocktails, to pre-hispanic drinks like tejuino, you have PLENTY of choices.
The Best Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
1. Agua de Horchata (Mexican Rice Milk)
Horchata is also known as Mexican rice water or Mexican rice milk, and something consumed all over Mexico.
It is a refreshing drink, with a texture similar to coconut milk, and among the most popular aguas frescas (Mexico juice and fruit waters).
As Mexican tacos and so much other Mexican food is often on the spicy side, this cool, sweet drink can really cut through some of that spice.
WHAT DOES HORCHATA TASTE LIKE?
It is a sweet drink, as it contains a good amount of sugar, with a thicker, creamier texture than many would expect from a rice drink.
Horchata is made mostly with rice, sugar and cinnamon, and different people add in additional ingredients from recipes passed down through the generations.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
2. Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower Tea)
The beloved Mexican agua de jamaica tea is made with dried flor de jamaica (hibiscus flowers), and you’ll find it everywhere from Mexico City to Cancun.
You will usually just see it called jamaica, and it’s pronounced haa-mike-uh, not Jamaica like the country.
HOW DO YOU MAKE MEXICAN JAMAICA TEA?
To make jamaica, just seep one cup of hibiscus flowers in one liter of water; though that can be adjusted to taste.
Put the container in the refrigerator, and after about an hour, drain the flowers, and serve the jamaica cold or over ice cubes.
In a hot country like Mexico, jamaica is so refreshing — and a popular drink to enjoy in the afternoon on a hot summer day.
Mexico jamaica tea is a pretty magenta color, which ends up being a bit lighter than the actual hibiscus flowers.
It has a tart and tangy flavor, similar to pomegranate and cranberry, so you might want to add in sugar or a sweetener. In Mexico, it’s usually served with sugar already in it.
IS MEXICAN JAMAICA TEA GOOD FOR YOU?
Jamaica flower tea is said to have many health benefits, and has been proven to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
As a natural diuretic, jamaica is said to pull salt out of your body, which helps lower blood pressure. (👩⚕️ Note: I’m no doctor, so take that as friendly advice.)
Looking to make Mexican mocktail drinks? Add some sparkling water to your jamaica for a refreshing jamaica spritzer. You can also mix jamaica tea with lemonade for an Arnold Palmer variation.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
3. Aguas Frescas (Fresh Fruit Waters)
Aguas frescas are “fresh waters,” and one of the non-alcoholic drinks Mexican people flock to on hot days to beat the heat.
Many things are classified as agua frescas, including horchata and jamaica (the last two Mexico drinks mentioned). However, they can also be made with these:
- 🍉 Agua Fresca de Sandía: Watermelon agua fresca
- 🍍 Agua Fresca de Piña: Pineapple agua fresca
- 🥒🍋🟩 Agua Fresca de Pepino: Cucumber Limeade
- 🍍🥒 Agua Fresca de Piña y Pepino: Pineapple and cucumber agua fresca
- 🍈 Agua Fresca de Melón: Cantaloupe agua fresca
- 🍓 Agua Fresca de Fresa: Strawberry agua fresca
- 🍍🌱 Piña con Chaya: Pineapple agua fresca with chaya (“tree spinach”), one of the most popular Mexican drinks in the Yucatan Peninsula
- 🥣 Agua de Avena: Oatmeal water, similar to oat milk
Agua del Día in Mexico
In Mexico, you’ll see cocinas económicas (economical restaurants frequented by locals), each with their own unique menu del día (menu of the day).
These inexpensive daily menus usually come with two to three courses of food, and an agua del día (drink of the day).
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
4. Tejuino
Tejuino (pronounced tay-ween-no) is another Mexican drink that uses corn, as maíz (corn) was a staple food in the prehispanic diet.
The masa dough gets mixed with water and piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), and this mixture is boiled until the liquid thickens.
During this process, it ferments slightly, giving tejuino a tangy taste. To cut through the tartness, you can add a scoop of lime sorbet on top.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
5. Batidos (Fruit Milkshakes)
The word used for milkshake in Mexico is malteada (pronounced mall-tay-ah-duh), but that will be the standard milk and ice cream variety.
Batidos are also Mexican milkshakes, but they’re made with milk and fresh fruits — so basically a milk smoothie.
If you want a simple fruit smoothie in Mexico or Mexican juice drinks, order a licuado (lee-kwah-doh). However, for a thick, creamy fruity drink, go for the batido.
Both batidos and licuados are two of the traditional Mexican drinks you’ll love on a hot day, and two of the more healthy Mexican drinks.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
6. Agua de Tamarindo (Tamarind Water)
Like horchata and jamaica, tamarindo water is another traditional Mexican agua fresca.
This flavor, which is made with the tamarind fruit, is one of the most beloved flavors in Mexico drinks and Mexican candy.
It is actually one of the most popular flavors of Jarritos, one of the best selling Mexican sodas.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
7. Tepache (Fermented Pineapple Drink)
In Mexico, tepache (pronounced tep-pach-ay) is often made in people’s homes. It is one of the most common drinks in Mexico that you’ll find sold by street vendors.
Mexican tepache is a fermented drink made with pineapple peel, cinnamon sticks and water, and kept in a sealed jar for 2-5 days to fully ferment.
For the best results, and to get the most benefits, many opt for the full five days.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
8. Mangonada or Chamoyada (Mango Drink)
The mangonada, AKA chamoyada, is basically a meal in a cup because it usually contains one whole mango.
As mangoes are a near-perennial crop in Mexico, and you can get them almost all year-long, and they’re especially refreshing on a hot day.
A mangonada is basically a thick fruit milkshake made with mango, topped with a garnish of Tajin chili powder, fresh lime juice, and chamoy syrup.
The red-colored chamoy syrup is one of the most popular Mexican candy flavors, and has a tangy-sweet taste that’s similar to tamarind.
It’s one of the best non alcoholic drinks in Mexico resorts because they tend to stock a lot of fresh fruits, so you can add in things like strawberries (which I do 😎).
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
9. Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate)
Champurrado (pronounced champ-pour-rah-doe), like Chocolate de la Abuela, is a type of Mexican hot chocolate.
If you love chocolate (🤔 who doesn’t?), this is one of the best Mexican hot chocolate recipes.
It’s a bit richer than regular Mexican hot chocolate because it’s prepared with masa de maíz or masa harina (corn flour), piloncillo (raw cane sugar) and cinnamon.
Champurrado has been around since the Aztec times, and really useful to keep people warm on the cooler Central Mexico nights.
Yes — Central Mexico has many more cold days than the beaches of Mexico.
Still popular today, champurrado’s thick texture makes it the perfect drink for dipping your churros in.
🍫 Brief History of Mexican Chocolate
Chocolate comes from Mexico, and the Mayans in the Yucatan Peninsula were the first to cultivate the cacao plant, which is what chocolate is made from.
It has been a Mexican staple food since prehispanic times, so naturally, there are many Mexican chocolate drinks.
In Oaxacan Mexican cuisine, it is even used for savory dishes like mole negro (black mole), as well as other traditional Mexican dishes.
In Mexico, if you don’t have a local supplier, Chocolate de la Abuela (grandma’s chocolate) is a popular supermarket brand.
While hot chocolate in the U.S. is often prepared with milk, Mexican hot chocolate drinks are made with chocolate and fresh water.
It is still served with a frothy foam-top because this chocolate beverage is hand-spun using a wooden whisk called a molinillo (wood whisk), which creates a foam.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
10. Ponche Navideño (Mexican Christmas Punch)
Ponche Navideño is Mexican fruit punch that’s usually only served during the winter months, December Posadas and Mexican Christmas gatherings.
🎄 Looking for Mexican Christmas gifts? Check out this guide to the 50+ Best Mexico Christmas Gifts and Ornaments.
Sometimes called “Mexican sangria,” Mexican ponche (pronounced pon-chay) is made with a lot of fruits, but is different in that it’s served warm.
Ponche contains tejocotes (little apples), guava, pears, mandarin oranges, tangerines, other citrus fruits, jamaica (hibiscus tea), tamarind and piloncillo (raw brown sugar).
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
11. Tejate
Tejate (pronounced tay-ha-tay) is an ancient chocolate and corn drink popular in Oaxaca, Mexico.
One of these 31 Best Oaxaca Foods and Drinks You Need to Try, it’s lovingly called “la bebida de los dioses,” or the drink of the gods.
While its flavor combo may not sound appetizing, this centuries-old drink has stood the taste test of time.
Tejate is made by hand in large clay bowls, by liquifying a mixture of fermented cacao (chocolate) beans, toasted maize (corn), toasted pits of mamey (tropical fruit), and flor de cacao (cacao flower).
One of the most popular Mexico drinks from Oaxaca, it is served cold so it’s very refreshing on a hot Oaxaca City day.
Since it has been around since prehispanic times, each region, city and family will have their own unique tejate recipe.
However, even with variations, tejate generally tastes like a more complex chocolate almond milk.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
12. Cafe de Olla (Traditional Mexican Coffee)
Mexican cafe de olla (meaning, “coffee from the pot”) is a traditional Mexican coffee preparation, common in states like Oaxaca and Chiapas.
It is made in an olla (large clay pot) with cinnamon and piloncillo (raw cane sugar). If you like your coffee sweet, this is one of the best drinks to have in Mexico.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
13. Mexican Atole
You might see this listed with Mexican chocolate drinks, but it doesn’t have chocolate in it. It’s traditionally made with vanilla, though there’s chocolate atole too.
Atole (pronounced ah-toe-lay) is one of the most common Mexico street drinks, very popular throughout Central Mexico.
It is often served in the morning, and contains a yummy mix of cinnamon, masa, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) and vanilla.
It is nearly the same drink as champurrado, but with vanilla instead of chocolate.
For fans of sweet drinks, but not chocolate, atole is among the most perfect drinks to try in Mexico.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
14. Tascalate
Tascalate (sometimes spelled tazcalate) is a non-alcoholic Mexican chocolate drink that’s very common in the Mexican state of Chiapas.
It’s made from a mixture of roasted maize (corn), chocolate, achiote (AKA annatto), ground pine nuts, vanilla and sugar — though it depends who’s making it.
Tascalate ingredients can vary, so some recipes end up dominated by the taste of roasted corn, and others end up dominated by the chocolate flavor.
It can be consumed both as a hot drink and as a cold drink, with slightly different preparations for each.
- ☕️ For a hot drink: The ground ingredients are mixed with milk and heated.
- 🧊 For a cold drink: The ingredients are combined with cold water and served poured over ice cubes.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
15. Chilate
No list of the best traditional Mexican non alcoholic drinks is complete without chilate (chee-lat-tay), an ice-cold cocoa-based from the Mexican state of Guerrero.
This state in southern Mexico has a large population of Afro-Mexicans, and many of Guerrero’s foods, drinks and customs reflect that, as with chilate.
In a traditional Mexican chilate recipe, you’ll find ingredients like chocolate, corn, rice, chili peppers, cinnamon, piloncillo cane sugar and brown sugar.
Besides Guerrero State (specifically Guerrero’s Costa Chica), you can also find chilate in parts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
16. Pozol
A non-alcoholic Mexican drink made from fermented corn dough and raw cacao beans, pozol has a rich, chocolatey taste and velvety texture.
To make it, you’ll need masa corn dough, which is the central ingredient. This must first ferment before it gets mixed with water.
During this fermentation process, the masa dough is cooked with lime and enriched with cacao. After, some people add sugar, honey and/or chili pepper.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
17. Best Mexican Mocktails
Mocktails, AKA virgin drinks, have all the flavorful goodness of a cocktail — minus the booze. Nowadays, you can get most cocktails as a mocktail, even in a bar.
As mocktails get more and more popular, all of the classic recipes have been tested and refined to churn out the best version of Mexican drinks non alcoholic style!
Here’s some info on three of the most popular mocktails from Mexico in case you’re making a Mexican party drinks non alcoholic options list:
1. Virgin Margarita
The Mexican Margarita was invented by Carlos “Danny” Herrera in 1938. He made it for Marjorie King, a Broadway dancer, and one of his regular customers.
Marjorie (which is Margarita in Spanish) was allergic to all spirits except tequila, so Danny made a custom tequila cocktail just for her — and named it after her!
Today, the Margarita is both the most popular cocktail in Mexico, and the most popular mocktail in Mexico.
A mocktail Margarita will often contain things like fresh-squeezed lime juice, simple syrup, tonic water, jalapeño syrup, cilantro syrup, and more.
→ Head here for the best recipe for Virgin Margaritas to learn how to make one of the best Mexican drinks whenever you want!
2. Virgin paloma
Paloma is the lesser-known, but dare I say, prettier and more delicious Mexican mocktail cousin to Margarita. I know I definitely prefer the Paloma!
When it comes to vacation drinks vibes, pretty colors and a refreshing beverage, Paloma just might be the best of all trendy Mexican mocktails.
A simple drink, it has just tequila or mezcal and either a grapefruit soda like Squirt, Izze or Ting, or fresh grapefruit juice and mineral water instead of soda.
For mocktails, many mixologists swap the alcohol for agave syrup, but recipes will vary. You can also buy these non-alcoholic Paloma mixers.
→ Head here for the best recipe for Virgin Palomas
3. Virgin Mojito
Mojitos aren’t Mexican beverages per se; they were actually invented in Havana, Cuba.
However, they’ve been adopted by Mexico because it produces a lot of sugarcane, so you can get really great mojitos in Mexico that are made with fresh sugarcane.
Mojitos are fruit-based drinks, so they’re super easy to convert from cocktail to mocktail by simply leaving out the booze from the alcoholic beverages.
→ Head here for the best recipe for Virgin Mojitos, one of the most easy non alcoholic drinks in Mexico!
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
18. Mexican Coke (Mexicoke)
Here’s an interesting Mexico fact you probably didn’t know: Mexico consumes more Coca-Cola than any other country in the world.
Mexicoke, as it’s known in the United States (though it’s just called “coca” in Mexico), is the Mexican recipe for Coca-Cola — the #1 soda on Earth.
The main difference between U.S. coke and Mexican coke is that Mexican Coca-Cola uses pure cane sugar instead of artificial sweeteners.
Die hard Mexicoke fans say this one change makes for a much better tasting beverage. Also, the glass bottles help keep the flavors crisp.
In the last decade or so, some U.S. restaurants and grocery stores have started selling Mexican Coke and also Mexican Sprite.
To try some, be on the lookout for the glass bottles of Mexican Coke, or you can buy Mexican coke here from Amazon.
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
19. Sidral Mundet (Mexican Apple Soda)
Sidral Mundet is another one of the big Mexican soda flavors and brands.
This apple soda was first made in 1902 by a Spanish man named Arturo Mundet who emigrated to Mexico — making it more than 120-years-old.
Today, you can buy the original red apple soda 🍎, or the more tangy green apple soda 🍏
Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
20. Mexican Jarritos Sodas
Jarritos (pronounced har-re-toes) is another one of the big players in the Mexican soda world.
This company makes their own Mexican cola (similar to Mexican coke), and other popular flavors like pineapple soda, mandarin orange soda, lime soda and tamarind soda.
As some varieties of Jarritos soda, like tamarindo and lime, are naturally flavored, these can make good Mexican drinks for kids.
Best Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico: FAQ
What are the most popular non-alcoholic drinks in Mexico?
Aguas frescas — These are probably the most common non-alcoholic Mexican beverage you can find in Mexico, besides water.
What non-alcoholic drink goes best with tacos?
Agua de jamaica — This hibiscus water compliments traditional Mexican tacos very well.
For very spicy tacos and Mexican foods, a sweet horchata can really cool your palate down quickly.
What non-alcoholic drinks do Mexicans drink?
There are MANY, like aguas frescas (fresh fruit waters), horchata (sweetened rice water), agua de tamarindo (tamarind water), virgin Mexican cocktails, and agua de jamaica (hibiscus tea).
What are the best Mexican non alcoholic beers?
The Top 5 Mexican beers with no alcohol are: Corona Sunbrew 0.0%, Cerveza Atletica, Sol Cero, Coba Maya and Corona Cero (AKA Corona Non-Alcoholic).
What do Mexicans drink at parties without alcohol?
Agua fresca fruit water is always an option, as well as mocktails like the Virgin Margarita, and non-alcoholic Mexican beers.
What soft drinks do Mexicans drink?
There are several popular Mexican sodas, like Mexicoke, Jarritos, Fresca, Mundet, Barrilitos, Sangría Señorial, Lift, Manzanita Sol, Topo Sabores, Squirt, and Tonicol.
Final Thoughts: The Best Non Alcoholic Drinks in Mexico
As Mexican drinks include such a wide variety, it’s hard (probably impossible) to declare the official “best non alcoholic Mexican drinks.”
However, there’s is *your* best Mexican non alcoholic drink — though you’ll have to comb through some Mexican drinks names and try them all to figure that out.
Hopefully this extensive list of 20 popular non alcoholic drinks in Mexico will give you a lot of options as you try and figure out which drinks of Mexico you like best.