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    Home / Dessert / Champús

    Champús

    A thick, sweet maize drink simmered with panela, pineapple, and lulo — fragrant, fruity, and served at street corners from Cali to Loja.

    ⏱ 20 minPrep time
    🔥 1 hr 15 minCook time
    🍽 8Servings
    🏷 DessertCategory
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    Champús - Sweet Maize Fruit Drink

    Champús is an ancient maize drink with roots in the pre-Columbian Andes, beloved in southern Ecuador and Colombia’s Cali. Hominy is simmered with panela, pineapple rind, cinnamon, and cloves, thickened to a glossy, eggnog-like consistency, and finished with lulo or naranjilla for a bright citrusy tang.

    Thick, sweet maize with a citrusy glow

    The drink is dense and silky, with tender hominy kernels suspended in a sweet, spiced brew that perfumes the whole room as it cooks. Panela gives it a deep, caramel-like sweetness, while the pineapple and lulo keep it bright — served cold, it is a refreshingly unusual treat.

    Ecuadorian recipes →

    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Soak the maize in water overnight, then drain.
    2. Simmer the maize with the water, pineapple rind and core, cinnamon, and cloves for 60 minutes, until the kernels are tender and the liquid is fragrant.
    3. Remove the pineapple rind and spices, then blend the chopped pineapple and naranjilla with 1 cup of the cooking liquid and strain back into the pot.
    4. Add the panela and salt and stir over medium heat until fully dissolved.
    5. Whisk in the cornstarch slurry and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, whisking constantly, until the champús turns glossy and thick, like a loose pudding.
    6. Stir in the raisins, cool slightly, and serve warm or well chilled with a dusting of cinnamon.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    The pineapple rind is the secret — it perfumes the whole pot as it simmers. Champús thickens as it chills; thin it with a little water or milk before serving if needed, and it keeps 4 days refrigerated.

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    Recipe details

    Prep20 min
    Cook1 hr 15 min
    Servings8
    CategoryDessert
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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