We're all grown-ups here, no? And sometimes grown-ups like to party like, well, grown-ups, and that can mean having some grown-up drinks with alcohol. It's all fun and good times until we realize the morning after that we had a little more than we should have and we have a hangover to prove it. Our head hurts, and our kids are chattering at us, and we need a good old Latin hangover cure. Fortunately, there are many to choose from, and we're here to share some with you.
More from MamásLatinas: Delicious recipes featuring Latin ingredients
We've gathered a few time-honored recipes that many swear by when trying to kick a hangover to the curb. Of course, the best remedy for a hangover is to not get one in the first place by pacing yourself and having one glass of water for every alcoholic drink that you enjoy. But don't worry, we're not judging, because we've been there, done that, and used these Latin foods and remedies to help us feel human again. Check them out, and keep them handy in case you or someone you know needs them.
Drink some coconut water.
Don't really feel like eating? Have some coconut water. The electrolytes and antioxidants the drink provides keep you hydrated and replenish nutrients lost from drinking too much alcohol. Also, it's easy to find at any store.
There's a reason menudo is popular on Sundays.
Lots of Mexican restaurants have menudo on the menu on Sundays because Saturday nights tend to be the nights that folks have a little too much to drink. This Mexican soup features cow tripe, hominy, lime, various herbs, and lots of crushed red peppers. You can of course make your own, or if you are not up to the task, you can do like my tíos and take a pot to a local Mexican grocery or restaurant that makes it and fill 'er up! Get the recipe here.
Beat dehydration with sancocho.
Hearty sancocho has been known to help out many a dehydrated and hungover soul. In some places, sancocho is even served at the end of a party to help cure the hangover before it even starts. Get the recipe here.
Leche de tigre does not require milking a tiger.
No, you don't have to go milk a tiger for this cure. Thank goodness! Instead eat ceviche. They say the leche de tigre—the lime juices that marinate the fish—and a shot of pisco can cure any hangover. You might want to prepare for a possible hangover by making ceviche ahead of time, because it needs time to marinate. Get the recipe here.
Try some moqueca.
Moqueca is a fish stew from Brazil. I'm sure the coconut milk in the broth is quite helpful in restoring balance in your body after too much drinking. Not to mention that the broth in any soup will go a long way to getting your fluid levels back up. Get the recipe here.
Colombian ajiaco helps with a punch of potassium.
Another soup to add to the list is Colombian chicken and potato ajiaco soup. The potatoes have potassium in them that is supposed to help with headaches and nausea. Get the recipe here.
Mondongo is another type of tripe soup.
Mondongo has tripe in it just like menudo, but it has potatoes instead of hominy, and it's Dominican, not Mexican. Many Dominicans enjoy this cow tripe soup to ease hangover symptoms. Get the recipe here.
Pour yourself a tall glass of Clamato.
Any Mexican (or at least my brother) knows that Clamato is another excellent solution for the common hangover. This tomato juice can be found in supermarkets and has spices and a touch of clams.
Have a bowl of Puerto Rican asopao.
Many Puerto Ricans love asopao de pollo to cure hangovers. The meal, which is a mixture of a soup and stew, also has sofrito and other herbs that have been likened to gumbo. Get the recipe here.
Bolivian fricasé will do you right.
Bolivian fricasé is quite the meal for those suffering the aftereffects of too much fun. This soup is made of pork, chuño, cumin, hominy, breadcrumbs, and all sorts of hangover busters. Get the recipe here.
Have you heard of La Rapidita Hangover Helper?
La Rapidita is basically two yellow pills that you take to make your hangover go away. The product is very popular among Dominicans. According to The New York Times, "La Rapidita, which the company labels in English as 'Hangover Helper,' contains acetaminophen, calcium carbonate, thiamine mononitrate and 43 milligrams of caffeine. Essentially, it's like taking a Tums, a Tylenol, a Vitamin B1 supplement and half a cup of coffee."
Have some hair of the dog that bit you.
This isn't per se a Latin cure, but many Latinos believe it works. Essentially, it is the theory that if you are experiencing a hangover, then you should drink a bit more of whatever it is that made you get a hangover so that you won't feel the symptoms anymore.
Mexican suero is very easy to make.
Suero is a popular Mexican hangover cure that's kind of like lemonade, except it uses salt instead of sugar. Basically, you make it with mineral water, salt, and lime juice. Get the recipe here.
Make a Clamato michelada to combine two hangover cures.
If you want to combine more than one hangover cure, consider making yourself a Clamato michelada. That way, you get the supposed hangover healing powers of Clamato and hair of the dog that bit you. Get the recipe here.
