Kahlúa, the coffee liquor whose name comes from the Veracruz Nahuatl, recorded a sales volume of 1.6 million 9-liter boxes in 2019
Kahlúa is an award-winning Mexican coffee liqueur or was first introduced in 1936. It results from a expert combination of coffee, rum, corn syrup and vanilla bean (which is another traditional Mexican ingredient).
It was created in Veracruz and received the name Kahlúa, which in the ancient Nahuatl language means "the house of the Acolhua people." While most people have tried this delicious drink, very few realize that it actually comes from the eastern state of Veracruz, Mexico.
Kahlúa is an award-winning Mexican coffee liqueur first introduced in 1936.
Its production began in 1936 thanks to Pedro Domecq and it was first exported to the US market in 1940. In the 1960s, Kahlúa was known for being run by an all-female team that received a lot of press attention.
A special liquor
This liqueur, sweet and rich in coffee flavor, adds a touch to any cocktail and is the perfect after-dinner drink. A bottle of Kahlúa takes up to seven years to produce, mainly due to the cultivation and harvest of the coffee beans used to give it that characteristic coffee touch.
It is made from a base of cane liquor and high-quality rums, to which natural coffee essences and vanilla and roasted cocoa extracts are added. This mixture is sweetened with sugar honey.
It was created in Veracruz and received the name Kahlúa, which in the ancient Nahuatl language means "the house of the Acolhua people."
The roasted and ground coffee is subjected to a controlled extraction of the soluble coffee which is subsequently mixed with the spirit, sugar syrup and natural vanilla extracts. The final product is a dark and bright amber liqueur with a sweet flavor, with notes of cocoa and vanilla, slightly astringent.
The alcoholic content of Kahlúa varies between 20% and 26.5% depending on the international market. In 2002, a higher-priced, high-quality product called "Kahlúa Especial" was launched on the market, available in duty-free sales centers (mainly in airports).
Kahlúa is made from a base of cane liquor and high-quality rums, to which natural coffee essences and vanilla and roasted cocoa extracts are added.
Kahlúa Especial has an alcoholic content of 36% and a lower viscosity, and is less sweet than the regular version. Traditionally, Kahlúa is made from Arabica coffee beans grown in the Veracruz mountains, near the state of Puebla, Mexico.
Kahlúa recorded a sales volume of 1.6 million 9-liter boxes worldwide in all of 2019.
According to the Statista platform, the coffee liqueur, which is manufactured by Pernod Ricard, recorded a sales volume of 1.6 million 9-liter cases worldwide in all of 2019.
Varieties of Kahlúa
- French Vanilla: The taste of vanilla is velvety, complemented by the intensity of coffee, it is recommended to try it in a glass over ice to capture all its aroma and flavor.
- Mocha: Made with a rich blend of 100% Arabica coffee, natural vanilla, real dark chocolate and the spirit of cane sugar, Kahlúa Mocha has a sweet and sour flavor. Ideal to combine in cocktails.
- Hazelnut: Introduced in 2007, the dark mahogany liqueur is smooth and satiny with a creamy hazelnut finish. Although hazelnut is the first flavor you taste, it is immediately followed by an intense explosion of coffee. The perfect option for this variant is with a hot or cold coffee drink.
- Special: Launched in 2002, Kahlúa Especial has an extra coffee taste. It is strongly seasoned with the purest Arabica coffee, dark in color. Ideal for use in cocktails such as expresso martini.
- Peppermint Mocha: With a mixture of mint and dark chocolate they complement this variant, they recommend taking it on the rocks or with hot chocolate.
- Ready to Drink: Ready-to-drink pre-mixed cocktails, from an original White Russian to a Cappuccino.
The use of Kahlúa
It is regularly used to prepare cocktails and as a decorative ingredient in various desserts, including ice cream, cakes and other types of fine pastries. It is also mixed with milk and liquid coffee, to sweeten and give a soft touch of liquor.
It has become very popular as an addition to desserts, whether poured over ice cream or added to a cake. However, arguably the most famous use of Kahlúa is in the russian white cocktail, which was largely popularized by the cult classic character in The Big Lebowski, The Dude by Jeff Bridges.