Tepache Sazón, the first commercially-produced alcoholic tepache in the U.S., has launched in Arizona, bringing a modern interpretation of a centuries-old Mexican tradition along with the flavors of Mexico’s Pacific coast to Arizona for the first time.
Tepache is a traditional fermented beverage typically made from tropical fruit, piloncillo (raw cane sugar), herbs, botanicals and spices and has a long-standing history in Mexico. The bubbly drink dates back to the Aztecs and is brewed for everyday occasions, as well as larger festivals by home cooks, street cart vendors, chefs and beyond, with each recipe ranging from region to region as communities take pride in connecting their very own interpretation—or “sazón”—with the best ingredients of the season.
While the tradition of tepache has been kept alive and enjoyed in Mexico for generations, the beverage is relatively unknown in the U.S. Tepache Sazón, a new expression of this traditional Mexican beverage, aims to change this and introduce U.S. drinkers to the refreshing treat through a traditional recipe from its home in San Pancho, Nayarit.
Produced in San Pancho on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, each bottle of Tepache Sazón is made with 100% fresh fruit and only three natural ingredients: sweet, locally sourced pineapples, piloncillo and canela, a complex, flavorful cinnamon commonly used in Mexican cooking. The pineapple fields where Tepache Sazón sources its fruit are only 50 kilometers from the tepacheria, the only production facility of its kind in the region.
Said to be the sweetest in Mexico, the San Pancho-grown pineapples go through a fermentation process and are combined with the canela and raw brown sugar, which is itself milled and boiled down into a caramel-like liquid that’s dried with a traditional process using conical wooden molds.
The result is a 7% ABV, naturally gluten-free beverage that promises a taste of a long Mexican tradition featuring the unique flavors of San Pancho. The light, amber liquid offers a perfect balance between sugar and acidity, bursting with a perfectly balanced tartness courtesy of the tropical fruit, while featuring subtle hints of spice and toasted caramel underneath its effervescent fizz.
Tepache Sazón is bottled into 375 ml glass bottles and available in packs of four at a variety of retailers like Paradise Liquor Mini Mart, Skyline Liquor, Trevor’s and Top’s Liquor for a suggested retail price of $23.99. You can also find the beverage at numerous local bars and restaurants, including Ajo Al’s Mexican Café, Bitter & Twisted and Wren and Wolf.
For more information on Tepache Sazón and where you can find the product, visit TepacheSazón.com.
Photos courtesy Tepache Sazón
