If you've ever been to Mexico, you may have been lucky enough to try a mangonada. This extremely popular golden-red drink can be found all across the country and is filled with mangoes, layers of chamoy, and Tajin seasoning.
It's the perfect balance between sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and umami. And now you can enjoy one in the comfort of your very own home!
Jump to:
📖 About
How beautiful is this drink to look at?! Seriously, mangonadas are a treat that look and taste delicious.
This recipe is jam-packed with every known flavor — sweet, spicy, sour, salty, and umami.
How is this even possible?
We wondered the same thing before trying one too. Mixing all of these colors, flavors, and textures into one recipe seems criminal, but somehow it all works.
This is one drink you'll be glad you tried.
What is it?
A mangonada goes by a few different names like mangoneada or chamango.
It's also a type of chamoyada, which can be made with different fruit. So in this case, we're making a mango chamoyada!
Okay, what exactly is a mangonada?
Mangonadas sit somewhere between drink and dessert. They're made up of four main ingredients: mangoes, Tajin (more on this later), chamoy (this too), and lime juice.
Mangoes make up the base, chamoy is drizzled in layers throughout, and the top is full of more fresh mango cubes, chile-lime salt (Tajin), and chamoy (bonus points if you make it yourself).
Chamoyadas are sold here in Mexico in various forms, whether it's a drink, popsicle, or a fully loaded meal-replacement (seriously, some are huge).
They're served in clear plastic cups that reveal layers of bright colors. In an attempt to reduce our plastic consumption, we opted for glass.
So, why do we love them so much?
Each time we try a mangonada, it's always a fun experience. The people who make them take such pride in their own creative design and flavor, which makes us happy campers.
History
The inception of the mangonada recipe is fairly uncertain other than originating in the streets of Mexico. One thing is for sure... it's been around much longer than the spike in IG photos with overflowing American-made mangonadas.
The drink has been gaining popularity in the US since around 2010. Some speculate it's due to the recent uptick in Mexican popsicle stores starting up, but who knows.
Regardless of where or when it originated, all we know is more of the world needs to try this refreshing Mexican beverage known as the mangonada.
Serving
Serve your drinks ice cold right out of the blender. A chamoy and Tajin rim is critical to the look and taste of this drink (much like the beloved Ceasar rim).
Sometimes you'll see chamoyadas served with spicy tamarind straws (also known as tarugos). They're optional, but can be found at Latin markets or online.
We know what you're thinking... "can these be made with alcohol?"
They most certainly can be! We recommend vodka, tequila, rum, or our personal preference, mezcal.
If your mouth isn't watering yet, this mangonada recipe is vegan and gluten-free, so virtually anyone can enjoy it!
🍲 Key ingredients
For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.
Mango
Taste: juicy, citrusy, and slightly floral, mangoes are one of the sweetest and tastiest fruits out there (by our standards). We use ataulfo mangoes in this recipe because we think they have the best texture, but just use whatever mangoes you have on-hand.
Health: not only are mangoes delicious, but they boast an impressive nutritional profile. This powerhouse of a fruit contains over 60% of your daily vitamin C needs in a single cup (if you needed another excuse to make a mangonada, this is it).
Chamoy
What it is: chamoy is an extremely popular Mexican condiment that can be found in candy, sauce, or on the outside of fruits. Chamoy is made from a base of either apricots, plums, mangoes (or a combination of them all), chiles, citrus, sugar, and salt.
Taste: you're going to have to try this sauce to believe it. Sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors are all packed into one delicious Mexican sauce. Chamoy is seriously one of a kind!
Health: you'll be happy to know this sauce is antioxidant and mineral-rich from the dried chiles and fruit (that is if you make your own).
Where to buy: you can purchase chamoy in most grocery stores in the Latin section, but it does come with added preservatives and colors. It's much healthier and tastier if you learn how to make chamoy from scratch!
Lime
Taste: lima (lime) is perfect to pair with most Mexican foods, and it does not disappoint in this mangonada recipe. You'll taste a characteristic tang, which elevates all the other flavors. Yum!
Health: limes are an amazing low-calorie way to add powerful antioxidants into your mango chamoyada. If you want to help your body fight off pesky free radicals, you should consider including more limes in your diet.
Tajin
What it is: Tajin is a brand that carries many different products. Their seasoning, Tajín Clásico, is probably the most popular product (and the one we're using here). It's made of three ingredients: dried and ground red chiles, sea salt, and dehydrated lime juice.
Taste: another bold flavor that will make your lips pucker, Tajin is tangy and mildly spicy. You'll want to put this stuff on everything (at least we do).
Where to buy: you'll be able to find Tajin at most grocery stores around the world. But if you're having trouble, it'll definitely be in the Latin or Mexican aisle. You can even order it from Amazon.
🔪 Instructions
If you have questions about this mangonada recipe, don't forget to check out our FAQ section at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: prepare all your garnishes by de-seeding and cubing the fresh mangoes, adding Tajin to one shallow bowl and chamoy to another.
Note: if you have a squirt bottle, add some chamoy in there too to make drizzling the inside of your glasses easier.
Step 2: squeeze both limes into a blender. Then, add in the frozen mango chunks, water, cane sugar, and ice. Blend on high until you have a smooth consistency, adding in small amounts of water if you need to.
Step 3: rim your glasses by dipping them in the bowl of chamoy followed by Tajin. Add a drizzle of chamoy to the bottom of your glasses and around the sides.
Step 4: divide the frozen mango mixture between glasses, then add more chamoy on top followed by fresh mango cubes.
Step 5: garnish with more chamoy, a sprinkle of Tajin, and tamarind candy straws. Enjoy!
🌡️ Storage
We hope you're aware you shouldn't store frozen treats in the fridge, so it's best to drink this recipe immediately after blending.
If you do have leftovers or want to get creative, try making mangonada paletas (in other words, popsicles).
Follow the same steps in this recipe, just inside popsicle moulds. They will keep in your freezer for months.
💭 Pro tips
Time to share our tips and tricks we learned while perfecting this recipe for you:
- Use ripe mangoes. The difference between ripe and unripe mangoes is serious business. Your drink will be way sweeter if you time it right.
- Make your own chamoy. We promise this drink will taste that much better (and be healthier) if you make your own chamoy.
- Prep before blending. Get your glasses ready, mangoes chopped, and Tajin opened so you don't have a melted drink by the time you're ready to enjoy it.
- Layer the chamoy. To achieve an even flavor throughout, layer the chamoy in every 20-30mL of slushy.
- Add more spice. If you're feeling risky, add in more hot sauce to liven things up.
- Add more ice. To make a lower-calorie drink and save money on mangoes, swap out some fruit for ice.
🍴 Tasting notes
If you've ever tried a mangonada, you know how delicious they are. If not, let us tell you they're:
- Sweet
- Tangy
- Spicy
- Salty
- Umami
If you try this mango chamoyada, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!
📋 Recipe
Mangonada
Equipment
- Blender
- Bowls
- Glasses
Ingredients
- 2 large limes ($0.24)
- 2 lbs frozen mangoes ($1.71)
- 2-3 cups water ($0.01)
- ¼ cup cane sugar ($0.02)
- 1 cup ice cubes ($0.01)
To serve
- 2 fresh mangoes, cubed ($0.64)
- ½ cup chamoy ($0.48)
- 2-4 tbsp Tajin chile powder ($0.18)
- 6 tamarind candy straws optional
Instructions
- Prepare the garnishes: de-seed and cube the fresh mangoes, place Tajin in one shallow bowl, and add chamoy to another.
- Squeeze both limes into a blender. Then, add in the frozen mango chunks, water, cane sugar, and ice. Blend on high until you achieve a smooth consistency, adding in small amounts of water if you need to.
- Next, rim your glasses by dipping them in the bowl of chamoy followed by Tajin. Add a drizzle of chamoy to the bottom of your glasses and around the sides.
- Divide the frozen mango mixture between glasses, then add more chamoy on top followed by fresh mango cubes.
- Garnish with more chamoy, a sprinkle of Tajin, and tamarind candy straws. Enjoy!
Notes
- We prefer the taste of ataulfo mangoes, but use whatever is available to you.
- Optional ingredients are not reflected in the price or calories of our recipes.
- Nutritional information is a rough estimate.
- Recipe cost calculations are based on ingredients local to us and may vary from recipe-to-recipe.
- All prices are in USD.
Nutrition
♻️ Similar recipes
For more tasty Mexican drink ideas, check out our:
- Mango avocado smoothie for a drink bursting with refreshing tropical flavors just dying to be guzzled down by you.
- Agua de tamarindo if you want another tart, sweet, and refreshing drink with new and unique flavors.
- Horchata to experience a creamy and refreshing authentic Mexican agua fresca.
- Agua de sandia for a tangy, juicy, and delicious drink that can be enjoyed at any time of day.
💬 FAQ
Mangonadas are very healthy, especially if you make your own chamoy that's not packed with sugar and preservatives.
A mangonada is like a spicy, sweet, salty, tangy, and umami flavored smoothie packed with creamy mangoes. There's really nothing else like it.
Chamoy is salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and umami. It tastes like Mexico condensed into a recipe.
You can omit the sugar in this recipe, but store-bought chamoy usually has sugar added. If you make your own chamoy, it can be done without the sugar.
leave a comment and rating!