As Summer heats up, it’s time to cool down with some of the peninsula’s most refreshing beverages. Whether you’re looking for an alcoholic indulgence or a revitalizing non-alcoholic option, these drinks will help you keep cool on those warm Baja days.
ALCOHOLIC
Margarita
It’s impossible to talk about drinks in Baja without starting with Mexico’s iconic margarita. There are variations on the drink, but it most commonly consists of fresh lime juice, tequila, and controy (Mexico’s orange liquor), served with ice. When you order a margarita, you can have it blended (liquada) or on the rocks (en las rocas), with salt on the rim of the glass (con sal) or without (sin sal). There are a number of reputed stories about where the margarita was invented. In Baja, Ensenada has two classic bars—Hussong’s and Bar Andaluz at the Riviera del Pacifico—that claim to be the birthplace of the margarita. You can still visit both establishments today to try the famous cocktail.
Michelada
In Baja California, micheladas are a beloved staple of beach days, taco runs, and weekend gatherings. This refreshing beer cocktail combines cold Mexican lager with tomato juice, lime juice, assorted sauces like Worcestershire and Maggi, hot sauce, and a salted or Tajín-rimmed glass for a tangy, savory, and slightly spicy drink perfect for hot afternoons. Many versions also incorporate tomato juice. Variations abound across Baja’s coastal towns, with some adding clamato juice to create a chelada con clamato (often called a “clamato michelada”), garnished with shrimp, cucumber slices, or even small seafood skewers. Chavelas are a similar drink but slightly simpler, made with beer, tomato juice, and lime.
Damiana
Sure, everyone knows about Tequila and Mezcal, but in Baja Sur, it’s the herbal Damiana liqueur that reigns supreme. Damiana liqueur is made from the dried leaves and stems of the damiana plant, which grows in Baja. It has a sweet, herbaceous flavor with notes of chamomile, fennel, citrus blossoms, and honeyed sweetness. The damiana herb has a long history, dating back to the Mayans, and is also associated with the Guaycura people of Baja California. It’s rumored to be an aphrodisiac. The versatile liqueur can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails like a Damiana Margarita.
Clamato Cocktail
It was about 50 years ago that the Clamato Cocktail was invented in Mexicali at Hotel Lucerna as a hangover cure. Today, you can still head to the piano bar at Hotel Lucerna to have one of the bartenders expertly prepare you a Clamato cocktail of your own just the way it was served five decades ago. The iconic drink mixes vodka with clamato juice, Worcester sauce, tabasco, salt, and pepper, topped with fresh lime and a stick of celery.
NON-ALCOHOLIC
Aguas Frescas
When traveling through Baja California’s bustling towns, roadside markets, or beachside taquerías, you will undoubtedly encounter large glass jars filled with vibrantly colored drinks – these are aguas frescas, Mexico’s beloved traditional refreshments. Meaning “fresh waters,” aguas frescas are non-alcoholic beverages made by blending water with fruits, seeds, flowers, grains, or herbs, creating naturally sweet, refreshing drinks perfect for Baja’s warm, dry climate. Aguas frescas date back to pre-Hispanic times, when Indigenous peoples would mix fresh fruit with water to hydrate during hot days. While flavors vary across Mexico, in Baja you’ll often find the following:
- Jamaica: Made from hibiscus flower petals, this deep red drink has a tart cranberry-like flavor and is lightly sweetened.
- Tamarindo: Made from tamarind fruit, this drink is tart and sweet. Tamarind fruit has many health benefits and contains a variety of vitamins and antioxidants.
- Horchata: A creamy beverage made with rice, cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar. Served cold, it pairs perfectly with spicy foods.
- Pepino con Limón: Refreshing cucumber blended with lime juice, water, and a touch of sugar, ideal on hot days.
- Sandía: Fresh watermelon blended into a bright pink drink, often served with ice for extra cooling power.
- Melón: Cantaloupe blended with water and sugar, common in Baja’s summer markets.
Limonada
If you order a limonada in Baja, you’re not going to get the sweet juice drink made from lemons that you may be used to. A limonada in Mexico is made with fresh squeezed limes, sugar, and water. The tart but sweet drink is incredibly refreshing and perfect for those hot Baja days. You can order it made with agua con gas (sparkling water) for an extra special bubbly treat.