What is Asian coffee from Cartagena?

Asian coffee is a perfect combination of the flavor, life and history of Cartagena. at any time of the day or night. a coffee with condensed milk, brandy and aromas of spices, widely consumed throughout the Campo de Cartagena region and, to a lesser extent, in the rest of the Region of Murcia and neighboring provinces. A combination that very soon merged with the personality of the city to perfect itself in the recipe that today we can enjoy in any corner of the port city.

Origin of Asian coffee

We have to go back to the beginning of the 20th century, although Spain had already lost its power over the Philippines, the port of Cartagena continued to be a commercial reference for sailors and goods arriving from Asia, inherited from the Spanish passage through those distant islands.

Sailors, soldiers, merchants, and merchants who docked in the city went to the local food and drink establishments. It was in them when, by ordering coffee as they used to drink it on the high seas, they literally brought down to dry land a new way of preparing this drink, which to this day has ended up being a tourist attraction in the port city.

Sailors who went or came to Asia were accustomed to drinking coffee with condensed milk since in this way the milk could remain in good condition during long journeys and also served to add a sweet touch to the mixture. To the coffee with milk they added whatever alcohol was available in bulk on the ship, normally a liquor, responsible for adding to the power of caffeine the effect of warming up and toning the body.

The mixture of coffee with milk and liquor was stirred with a cinnamon stick since it was one of the products that came on the ships and was unloaded in Cartagena to trade and in this way another nuance of flavor was provided to the coffee that made it even more special.

When the local population observed the way the sailors drank coffee, they wanted to try it and ordered “the same thing that the Asian has asked for” or coffee “as the Asian drinks it”, thus giving its name to this version of coffee.

Later, the recipe evolved to include Licor 43 in the alcoholic part, which is manufactured in Cartagena itself.

The recipe is in the glass

But the story of this curious coffee does not end here, it turns out that it also has its own glass with an exclusive and patented design.

The Spanish Glass Union had three factories in Spain, one of them in Santa Lucia in the small neighborhood of Cartagena, where they manufactured a glass that was used for vermouth. It was that glass that was modified to adapt to the one currently used in Cartagena to serve this characteristic coffee. Among the modifications, some brands were added that determine the necessary amount of each ingredient, that is why it is said that the recipe is in the cup, if you have the original Asian cup and follow the instructions of the brands it will be very easy for you to obtain an excellent coffee Asian from Cartagena.

In our store you can buy the original Asian cup and various cases that also include all the ingredients, an elegant detail for a gift or for personal use.

How to make an Asian coffee

We have prepared a video so that you can make this magnificent coffee step by step at home and enjoy it with your friends. I hope you enjoy it!