What’s in a pina colada? Your guide to the summer cocktail

Because it’s all too tempting to sit on the beach all day sipping on these sweet treats, we’re rounding up everything you need to know about them, from how healthy they are to the perfect pina colada recipe.

So read on for the answers to the following pina colada questions... Cheers!

• What is a pina colada?
• What are the ingredients in a pina colada?
• Is pina colada very alcoholic?
• What’s the recipe for pina colada?
• Are pina coladas vegan?
• What glass do you serve a pina colada in?
• Are pina coladas healthy?
• How do you make a pina colada virgin?
• What is pina colada in English?

What is a pina colada?

A pina colada - traditionally spelled Piña Colada, is an alcoholic cocktail made from a combination of light rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice and ice. The drink was invented in the Puerto Rican capital San Juan in 1954, and is attributed to local bartender Ramón “Monchito” Marrero.

Since 1978 it has been the official drink of Puerto Rico.

What are the ingredients in a pina colada?

The ingredients in a pina colada are:

• Rum
• Cream of coconut (not coconut cream)
• Pineapple juice
• Ice

Many versions of the cocktail also feature the addition of a squeeze of lime juice, pineapple slices or maraschino cherries.

Top tip!

Add a dash of Angostura bitters for added pizazz.

Is pina colada very alcoholic?

Pina coladas are made with light rum, which is usually 70-80 percent proof, and if a typical double measure is used, one cocktail will be 13% ABV.

Pina coladas are very sweet and creamy, which can mask the taste of alcohol and prevent people from realising just how strong the drink is.

What’s the recipe for pina colada?

The recipe for making a pina colada is simply to blend together 120ml pineapple juice, 60ml coconut cream, 60ml white or light rum with ice and strain into a glass. A squeeze of lime is optional, as is a pineapple wedge or maraschino cherry to garnish.

Top tip!

Only ever use fresh pineapple juice, not tinned or concentrated. This tastes better and prevents the drink from separating.

Are pina coladas vegan?

Yes, pina coladas are vegan and made entirely with plant-based ingredients. The alcohol in a pina colada is rum, and since spirits are distilled by taking a grain or sugar and fermenting it, most spirits are totally vegan.

What glass do you serve a pina colada in?

A pina colada should be served in poco Grande glass, which is also sometimes referred to as a “piña colada glass”. This type of glass has a big bowl and is used for long drinks and frozen drinks (those made with crushed ice).

Top tip!

Use one measure of light rum and one measure of dark rum.

Do pina coladas contain any allergens?

Pina coladas do not contain any of the 14 major food allergens. Despite the name containing cream and nuts, coconut cream contains neither Milk nor (Tree) Nuts. Coconut is not an allergen.

You can check whether a food product contains any of the major allergens, as well as other nutritional information by using the Erudus Allergen and Nutritional Data Search.

Are pina coladas healthy?

Pina coladas are not very healthy - aside from containing alcohol, which dehydrates the body and has other negative effects, it is made with coconut cream, which is high in saturated fat and calories.

However, coconut is also rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, and pineapple juice contains lots of vitamin C.

Top tip!

Make a pina colada “short” by replacing the coconut cream with coconut water and serving in a smaller glass.

How do you make a pina colada virgin?

To make a virgin pina colada simply remove the rum, or replace it with one of the non-alcoholic rums now available to buy.

What is pina colada in English?

“Piña colada” means “strained pineapple” in Spanish. The name comes from the pineapple juice among the cocktail’s ingredients, which should be strained in its preparation.

Top tip!

When blending the ingredients together, keep going until the mixture has taken on a milkshake-like consistency.