--- title: "Chilean Gloriao — Homemade Hot Coffee and Aguardiente Drink Recipe" description: "Versión en Español. Chilean gloriao, also called cordial, is a hot drink made by dissolving coffee, sugar, and aguardiente in boiling water, traditionally served at rural wakes and at the Noche de San..." url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-gloriao-hot-coffee-aguardiente-drink-recipe/ date: 2026-09-27 modified: 2026-09-27 author: "Carlos Uhart M." image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-gloriao-hot-coffee-aguardiente-featured.jpg categories: ["Beverages"] type: post lang: en --- # Chilean Gloriao — Homemade Hot Coffee and Aguardiente Drink Recipe [Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/receta-de-gloriao/) ![Chilean gloriao, a hot drink of aguardiente and coffee served in a kettle and china cups](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-gloriao-hot-coffee-aguardiente-featured.jpg)*Homemade Chilean gloriao* Chilean gloriao, also called cordial, is a hot drink made by dissolving coffee, sugar, and aguardiente in boiling water, traditionally served at rural wakes and at the Noche de San Juan. It takes 5 minutes of preparation plus 10 minutes of cooking and serves 6 people. It has been drunk in Chile since colonial times, originally made with burnt sugar caramel, boiled water, and aguardiente. ## How to Make Chilean Gloriao? The traditional gloriao used burnt sugar caramel, and the mixture was steeped with cinnamon, citrus peel, and cloves and stored for the sad occasion when it would be served. This quick version simply dissolves coffee, sugar, and aguardiente in freshly boiled water. ## Nutritional Information Each serving of gloriao contains approximately 180 kcal, 24 g of carbohydrates, 0 g of fat, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fiber, 24 g of sugars, 0 mg of cholesterol, and 5 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes. ## Homemade Chilean Gloriao Recipe **Preparation:** 5 minutes **Cooking:** 10 minutes **Servings:** 6 people ### Ingredients - 2 liters (68 fl oz) of water - 120 ml (4 fl oz) of aguardiente - 8 tablespoons of sugar - 4 tablespoons of coffee ### Instructions 1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat in a large kettle, take off the lid, and carefully add the coffee, the sugar, and the aguardiente to the boiled water, stirring with a spoon to mix and dissolve. 2. Cover and serve the gloriao right away, very hot, in individual coffee cups or in a mate gourd with a bombilla to share. ## Additional Tips ### Add the aguardiente off the heat Pour in the aguardiente right after taking the kettle off direct heat. Alcohol boils at 78 C, so adding it to rapidly boiling water makes it evaporate quickly. ### Let the coffee hydrate Sprinkle the coffee evenly over the hot water and wait ten seconds before stirring so it dissolves without lumps. ### Try the traditional version For an older style gloriao, caramelize the sugar first and steep the drink with cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves. | Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Aguardiente | Pisco | 1:1 | More aromatic | | White sugar | Burnt sugar caramel | 1:1 | Traditional, deeper | | Instant coffee | Brewed coffee | 4 tbsp : 500 ml | Richer | | Plain | Cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves | To taste | Spiced | ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### 1. Which aguardiente should I use? Traditionally a Chilean grape aguardiente of 30 to 45 degrees, although in some areas artisanal pisco or homemade country spirits are also used. ### 2. What is the difference between gloriao and navegado? Gloriao is a water based drink with aguardiente, coffee, and sugar, while vino navegado is made with red wine, orange, cloves, and sugar and is more typical of urban winter celebrations. ### 3. What does gloriao represent in Chilean folklore? It is more than a drink: it is a symbol of rites of passage and of the blend of religion and country tradition, marking moments of mourning, community, and popular faith. ### 4. How is gloriao best served? Very hot, in small china cups or in a ceramic mate with a metal bombilla, with pan amasado, sopaipillas, or cirigues, especially on the Noche de San Juan or at rural wakes. ## What Is Gloriao? Gloriao is a hot alcoholic drink of the Chilean countryside, tied to funeral rites and religious festivals since colonial times. It is served communally during long nights of vigil and celebration. ## History and Origin of Gloriao According to the oldest accounts, gloriao was first drunk at the velorio de angelito, a wake for young children who died before the age of three, celebrating their entry into the Gloria de Dios, the glory of God. It later spread to wakes for adults and to saints’ days, patron festivals, and the Noche de San Juan, and its name became linked to the Gloria prayer said for the dead. ## Did You Know? Since the second half of the twentieth century gloriao has almost disappeared, although similar drinks can still be found in rural areas of the Elqui Valley, the Cajon del Maipo, and Chiloe. ## Recommended - [Chilean Culen Ponche Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-culen-ponche-herbal-punch-recipe/) - [Chilean Canelita Mistela Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-canelita-cinnamon-mistela-recipe/) - [San Juan Cirigues Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/recipe-for-san-juan-cirigues/) - [Chilean Retafiao Recipe](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-retafiao-grape-aguardiente-liqueur-recipe/)