“Lechitas Frías”, as these drinks are often known in the Mexican State of Tabasco (in the southeast of the country), are a delicious and refreshing combination of milk with vanilla and cinnamon. It is a milk-based drink that is very popular and is sold in houses or in eateries (called “cenadurías” in Mexico). It’s a perfect “merienda” snack option for kids!
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Lechitas Frías
“Lechitas Frías”, as these drinks are often known in the Mexican State of Tabasco (in the southeast of the country), are a delicious and refreshing combination of milk with vanilla and cinnamon. It is a milk-based drink that is very popular, and is sold in houses or in eateries (called “cenadurías” in Mexico). It’s a perfect “merienda” snack option for kids!
These flavored milks that are sold in Tabascan, homes are usually prepared by housewives, who put up signs in front of the house indicating that they sell flavored milks. These drinks are frequently sold in small plastic bags, and the majority of the customers that buy these drinks are children that pass by when they get out from school. They’ll stop by to purchase them so they can enjoy a snack before their main meal, as well as to mitigate the exhausting midday heat. In Tabasco, the heat can easily top 100º Fahrenheit and 100% humidity during the summer months.
This vanilla and cinnamon-flavored milk drink is also sold in small eateries (cenadurías), where it is enjoyed by patrons that like drinking it along with the delicious local antojitos like Tacos de Chochinita, Enchiladas, or Tamales. It’s very common to see people enjoying their dinner with a glass or bottle of these Lechitas Frías.
Vanilla - Cinnamon Milk
I lived in Tabasco for 6 years, and even today I still like making these Lechitas Frias at home and serving them ice-cold; even my grown-up son likes them! It is a different way of enjoying a cold glass of milk.
It’s sad to realize that nowadays 1 in 2 children over 9, are missing out on the important nutrients that they need to grow, including calcium, potassium, and vitamin D (and more than half of children under 9 are missing out on potassium and vitamin D). As a Latina mother, I wonder if the children in my family are among them.
I know that as mothers we are always thinking about how we can give our kids better meals and balance their diets, and we’re always looking for quality products, but sometimes without knowing it we can leave some details overlooked, and our kids end up missing out on the nutrients they need. Something as simple as giving them a glass of cold milk with each meal (like our moms and grandmothers used to do) can help our children get those necessary nutrients.
Milk is the primary food source of calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, but the reality is that kids these days are not drinking enough. In fact, most kids no longer consume the daily-recommended servings of milk, according to the CDC and other health organizations.
Milk is a simple and delicious way to help your kids get natural protein and nutrients that they need to grow up strong. And it’s something that they love! Giving them a glass of milk will be something that you won’t have to struggle to do.
Here are some other ways my family and I use more milk in our daily lives: Banana Milk Smoothie, Milk Pie, White Atole with Milk, Champurrado, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Pastel de Tres Leches, and Mexican Rice Pudding. And of course, I also like it with my afternoon coffee!
For more information on how much milk your kids need, and ideas for how to give it to them, visit https://fuertesconleche.com/nutricion/dales-mas-leche
So, pour more milk in those glasses, get creative, and add other flavors to enjoy it! Also, for all you chocolate lovers, I’m including the ingredients and instructions for making chocolate-flavored Lechitas. Vanilla Milk & Chocolate Milk. Enjoy!
How to make Vanilla & Cinnamon Flavored Milk
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Place the sugar and three cups of milk in a medium-size saucepan with the cinnamon stick. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Once the milk starts boiling, reduce the heat to low. Gently simmer the milk for 10 minutes so that it can be infused with the cinnamon flavor.
- While the milk is simmering, mix the tablespoon of cornstarch and the remaining cup of milk in a bowl. Mix well, making sure that there are no lumps in the milk.
- Pour the milk-cornstarch mixture and the vanilla extract into the simmering milk. Turn the heat to medium-high and simmer for 6-8 more minutes.
- Allow the Flavored milk to come to room temperature, and then pour it into small bottles to be refrigerated. This drink tastes better when served cold!
Chocolate Flavored Milk
- To make the chocolate flavored milk, mix the cocoa powder along with the milk and cornstarch in step 3.
I hope you enjoy this recipe for Flavored Milk as much as we do at home.
Maybe you will also like the Agua de Horchata Recipe.
How do you like to drink your milk?
PS. Add this flavored milk to your cup of coffee, it's delicious!
📖 Recipe
Flavored Milk
Ingredients
- 4 cups of milk
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- ½ Cinnamon stick
- 1½ tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 tsp. cocoa powder optional, see instructions for chocolate flavor below
Instructions
- Place the sugar and three cups of milk in a medium-size saucepan with the cinnamon stick. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Once the milk starts boiling, reduce the heat to low. Gently simmer the milk for 10 minutes so that it can be infused with the cinnamon flavor.
- While the milk is simmering, mix the tablespoon of cornstarch and the remaining cup of milk in a bowl. Mix well, making sure that there are no lumps in the milk.
- Pour the milk-cornstarch mixture and the vanilla extract into the simmering milk. Turn the heat to medium-high and simmer for 6-8 more minutes.
- Allow the Flavored milk to come to room temperature, and then pour it into small bottles to be refrigerated. This drink tastes better when served cold!
CHOCOLATE FLAVORED MILK
- - To make the chocolate flavored milk, mix the cocoa powder along with the milk and cornstarch in step 3.
Mikey
These drinks sound amazing. I kept thinking my country of Australia was an oddball with all the flavoured milk, and that seeming a foreign concept in St. Elsewhere.
Would it work with flavours like banana, coffee, and strawberry?
Mely Martínez
Hello Mikey,
We do make many drinks using other fruits. Check this link: AGUAS FRESCAS
Jess
Where did you get those milk glasses with the hexagon pattern on the outside from?
Mely Martínez
Hello Jess,
I found those cute glasses at a thrift store a long time ago. But, Micheal's or Hobby Lobby have some similar to these ones for the Flavored Milk Recipe.
Maria E. Mora
Hello Ms.Mely,
I actually remember these drinks from my childhood! They were always delicious. However, now as a senior citizen I have discovered some food allergies that have caused (arthritic) inflammation. I am now allergic to dairy, corn-so so sad-avocadoes, soy, etc.etc. BUT, I want so much to enjoy the flavors of my childhood so I am always looking for recipes that I can successfully substitute some of the banned ingredients. I am planning to use a plant based milk but do not know what to sub for the cornstarch?? Please advise
Mely Martínez
Hello Maria,
You can skip the cornstarch since not everyone use it.
Lucero Alcantar
Omg! this was the best milk I've ever tried... thank you so much!
Lucero Alcantar
Omg! this was the best milk I've ever tried... thank you so much!
Heather Kirkpatrick
I enjoy finding new recipes for flavored milks. I made this one tonight, and it was really tasty. I was skeptical because I love sweets and 3 T of sugar did not sound like much! However, I really liked this milk. It reminded me of the flavor you get in rice pudding. I'll definitely have to make another batch adding the cocoa powder.
mmartinez
Hi Heather,
Thank you for trying the recipe. You will love the chocolate flavored milk too.
Janet
The Vanilla-Cinnamon sounds delicious!
mmartinez
Hello Janet, It's our favorite at home.
Claudia Diaz
Love it all!!