The Renaissance of Quetzalteca, Guatemala’s Traditional Aguardiente

Quetzalteca is a classic Guatemalan alcoholic drink sold all over the country, and it has undergone something of a revival lately.

For decades the brand was marketed as a cheap bottle of booze favored by the working class. Its distinctive bottle depicts a Maya indigenous woman in traditional dress, and a small bottle can be had for $2.

Two years ago the drink had a rebrand, with mixed versions of its popular hibiscus flavor distributed to trendy bars and restaurants around the country. Since then, Quetzalteca has come back into fashion with the younger middle class embracing it.

These days, you are just as likely to see fashionable 20-somethings sipping on Quetzalteca as grizzled old men in the local cantina. It’s worth trying when you’re in Guatemala, and there are different flavors available.

Hibiscus is the most popular, but there are also tamarind and original flavors. Tamarind is a bit too sickly sweet for some people, but it mixes well with lemonade. Try them all when you’re in the country, just don’t drink too many. Quetzalteca has been known to give terrible hangovers to those that aren’t used to it.