Peto: the Traditional Drink of Colombia’s Caribbean Coast

Peto is a traditional drink from Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, and it is common to see street vendors carrying pots of peto. Credit: Rodtico21, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia CommonsOn the streets of Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, the sound of a metal bell or the voice of a street vendor announcing their product draws the attention of passersby. This is peto, a thick corn-based drink that, beyond quenching thirst, is part of the region’s cultural heritage. Origin and history of peto on Colombia’s Caribbean CoastPeto has its roots in the ancestral culinary practices of Indigenous peoples, who used corn as the foundation of their diet. With the arrival of the Spaniards, this drink was enriched with ingredients such as milk, sugar, and spices, giving rise to the recipe that is now well known on the Caribbean Coast.