In The Community
So, why settle for just a caffeine buzz when you can have a flavor explosion and a healthy boost all in one? Whether you need a pick-me-up to start your day, a refreshing thirst quencher for a sunny afternoon, or a cozy drink to warm you up on a chilly night, these authentic Latin American beverages are sure to become your new favorites.
Yerba Mate
Photo by Komarov Egor 🇺🇦 via Unsplash
This beloved beverage is made by steeping dried leaves from the yerba mate plant in hot water and is enjoyed across Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil for its delicious taste and energy-boosting properties. It's packed with caffeine, antioxidants, and a heap of other vitamins and minerals, making it the ultimate wellness potion.
To prepare yerba mate, fill a hollowed-out gourd (called a mate) two-thirds full with the leaves, then moisten them with cool water and let them absorb it. Add hot water and steep for a few minutes before sipping on this magical brew. Sweeten with honey or sugar if you like, or add a splash of citrus for some extra zing. And if you're feeling fancy, you can brew it using a French press or tea infuser.
Té de Guayusa
Takiwasi, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This tea is a traditional Amazonian drink consumed by indigenous communities in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Made from the leaves of the guayusa tree, it's packed with natural caffeine and other stimulating compounds that'll have you buzzing with energy.
To brew, simply boil 4 cups of water, add 4-5 guayusa leaves, and let steep for 5-7 minutes. Strain, serve hot, and add some sweetness if you have a sweet tooth. Want to take it up a notch? Add some cinnamon or mint for an extra kick.
Pinolillo
GrammarFascist, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This Central American drink is the ultimate comfort food in a cup. Made from toasted corn flour, cocoa, and cinnamon, with hints of vanilla and sugar, Pinolillo is a rich, chocolatey beverage that'll warm you up on a cold day and cool you down on a hot one. It's a cultural icon in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, where it's sipped on and celebrated by young and old alike.
The best part? The cocoa and cinnamon in Pinolillo contain just enough caffeine to give you a little energy boost without the jitters. To make this tasty drink, simply roast some cornmeal, blend it with cocoa, cinnamon, and sugar, and add hot water or milk to taste. It's that easy!
Guaraná
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Native to Brazil, guaraná has been used for centuries by indigenous communities for its natural caffeine, theobromine, and other energizing compounds. Nowadays, it's a popular ingredient in energy drinks, supplements, and other products. But why settle for pre-made when you can make your own delicious guaraná drink at home?
Mix 2 tablespoons of guaraná powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 cup of water in a blender until smooth. Pour it over ice, top it off with soda water, and add a slice of lime. Ah, refreshing and energizing.
Tereré
TitiNicola, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Hailing from Paraguay, this refreshing drink is made by steeping yerba mate leaves in cold water, then jazzing it up with ice, herbs, fruits, and sweeteners for a little extra pizzazz. It's typically enjoyed with friends and family, who pass around a shared cup and sip through a metal or bamboo straw called a bombilla. With its many health benefits, including aiding digestion and improving mental clarity, tereré is the perfect drink to sip on a hot summer day.
To make your own, grab a guampa (a traditional drinking cup made from a hollowed-out gourd) and fill it halfway with yerba mate leaves. Add some fresh mint, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and a dash of honey or sugar. Then, fill the guampa to the top with ice-cold water or juice and sip away with a bombilla. Salud!
- 5 Tasty and Fresh Latino Springtime Snacks ›
- How to Make the Coquito of Your Dreams ›
- Hop into the Stories Behind These Latino-Owned Breweries - Luz Media ›
- 6 "Biohacks" That Will Actually Improve Your Health - Luz Media ›
- The Coquito Recipe You've Been Waiting For ›
- 10 Cocktail Recipes You Can Make with Tequila ›
They’re still underrepresented in comparison to their male colleagues but progress is progress. Latinas in technology face several hurdles and barriers, including discrimination and prejudices based on gender, race, and ethnicity.
Despite these obstacles, many Latinas have achieved success and made substantial contributions. Check out these 5 inspiring Latina tech entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place
Ariel Lopez
Urban Geekz
Ariel Lopez is an Afro-Latina entrepreneur, career coach, and speaker in tech. She is the founder and CEO of Knac, formerly 2020Shift, a talent management platform that promises to transform the job application process for professionals and businesses by reducing bias and improving the candidate experience while also making the hiring process much more efficient.
Passionate about the future of work, diversity, and inclusion, Ariel aims to create impactful solutions through technology and by coaching marketing, advertising, and tech professionals on ways to grow their businesses and careers.
Marcela Torres
Marcela Print
Marcela Torres, a researcher in social sciences, founded Hola Code in 2017 after identifying an urgent need for qualified personnel in the software development sector within her home country of Mexico, and tying that in with a growing migration crisis. Wanting to enact social change, she created a company that transforms forced migrants (returnees, deportees, and refugees) into skilled software developers, tapping into Mexico’s growing tech sector as well as the global demand for bilingual and bicultural developers, and helping them gain access to more, better jobs and opportunities.
Currently, Hola Code receives more than 400 applications each month from Mexicans and Central Americans seeking asylum. While they celebrate the accomplishments of their alumni, who quickly ascend into well-paid tech jobs across Mexico, the coding bootcamp is never short of work.
Dr. Maria Artunduaga
The Business Journals
Dr. Maria Artunduaga, a Colombian-born physician-scientist turned entrepreneur, graduated first in her class from Colombia's prestigious Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, which is ranked sixth among Latin American medical institutions. She moved to the United States for her postdoctoral studies, first at Harvard's Department of Genetics and subsequently at the universities of Washington and California in Berkeley-San Francisco, where she earned master's degrees in Public Health and Translational Medicine.
Inspired by her abuela Sylvia after years of witnessing her struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Maria went on to found Samay, formerly known as Respira Labs, a startup focused on enhancing the quality of life for people living with COPD through connected health and machine learning.
Laura I. Gomez
Techies
Laura I. Gomez is a Latina entrepreneur and technology executive. She is the co-founder and CEO of Atipica, a company that provides technology solutions for businesses to help improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She received her degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has worked in diverse leadership roles in the tech industry, including Google, YouTube, Jawbone, and Twitter, where she led the company’s product expansion into 50 languages and dozens of countries.
Laura has been recognized for her work as an entrepreneur and tech executive, having been named to Forbes' list of "Latin America's Most Powerful Women" in 2017. In addition to her work at Atipica, Gomez is also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) board of directors. She is currently working on Proyecto Solace, described as “a community focused on building safe spaces for Latinx peoples focused on collective healing and mental wellness.”
Dr. Graciela Chichilnisky
Dr. Graciela is an Argentine-American economist and environmental scientist known for her work on climate change and creating innovative technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She is the co-founder and former CEO of Global Thermostat, a company that developed a technology that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. The technology is designed to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Dr. Chichilnisky has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from the National Science Foundation, the Chaire d'Excellence from the French Government, and the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement. She is also a professor at Columbia University, where she teaches courses on environmental economics and the management of global environmental risks.
- 5 Not so Known Inventions Made by Latinas ›
- 8 Latinas in STEM Accounts to Follow on IG ›
- Latinas in STEM ›
- 10 Ways to Use Your Female Energy to Further Your Career ›
- 8 Signs You’re a Proud Latina Geek - Luz Media ›
- Latina Professionals Transforming Realities - Luz Media ›
