Michelada is the name of a popular Mexican mixed drink made with beer, lime juice, and hot sauce. It frequently also includes Worcestershire or soy sauce or the umami-rich liquid wheat-gluten seasoning called Maggi (a popular MSG product found in cuisines around the world) and a salt rim. The origins of the Michelada are murky. One oft-cited account tells of a man named Michel Esper creating the drink at the Club Deportivo Potosino in San Luis Potosí in the 1970s; Esper, a civil engineer, has come forward with details to back up the story. Another plausible theory is that the word Michelada derived from the Spanish words for “my cold blonde”:
Though popular in Mexico, the Michelada has many regional variations and even more modern twists across the globe. It might be made with a darker beer, a range of different condiments, tomato juice, or even Clamato juice. A popular variation, called the cubana, incorporates chile powder. In recent years, several beer brands and other beverage companies have tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Michelada with branded cocktail recipes and the launch of new products, including Tecate Michelada, a canned beer drink made with spices, chili pepper, and lime flavor, and Modelo Especial Chelada, made with tomato, lime, and salt flavors. Even Bud Light has a version called Chelada, made with Clamato juice, salt, and lime flavor.
Recipe (Michel Esper’s version): In a pint glass full of ice, put 15 ml lime juice and 5 drops each Mexican hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Maggi seasoning. Add a 330 ml bottle of chilled Mexican beer. (Optional: Salt the rim of the glass.)
Cecchini, Toby. “Case Study: It’s Michelada Time.” T Magazine, July 19, 2010. https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/case-study-its-michelada-time/ (accessed February 19, 2021).
Estrella de Mar, Jacobo. “La verdadera historia de la invencion de la Michelada.” Vive, July 15, 2010, 12–13.
Jasso, Ely Cabrero. “Una bebida con origen azul & oro.” Revista Contorno, 2014, 9.
By: Chantal Martineau