Agua de panela

Agua de panela, also written aguapanela, is the everyday Colombian and Andean drink of panela — unrefined whole-cane sugar — simply dissolved in water. It is amber when hot and golden when iced, frankly sweet with a faint molasses depth, and is drunk at any hour: a breakfast warmer, an afternoon pick-me-up, a children's drink and a folk remedy for colds. A squeeze of lime brightens it, and in the highlands a slab of fresh cheese is dropped into the hot cup to soften and be eaten with a spoon. It is non-alcoholic, caffeine-free in its plain form, and one of the most democratic drinks of South America.