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Peanut Torito Liqueur

Name: Peanut Torito Liqueur
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 pinch Salt; 0.5 tsp Ground cinnamon; 200 g Unsalted peanuts

15 min (10 prep + 5 cook) Easy 8 servings Veracruz

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 30 Mar 2026 · Updated: 30 Mar 2026

Creamy Veracruz peanut liqueur with sugarcane spirit, sweet and velvety.

About this recipe

Peanut torito is the most iconic tipple of Veracruz: a creamy, sweet liqueur made with sugarcane spirit, ground peanuts, condensed milk and evaporated milk. Its velvety texture and toasted peanut flavour make it irresistible. It is served ice-cold in small clay cups and is the quintessential aperitif of the port's bars and cantinas. Every Veracruz family has their own recipe, but the base is always sugarcane spirit and peanuts.

History & Origin

Torito is the liquid symbol of Veracruz, as representative of the state as son jarocho music or highland coffee. Its name refers, according to popular tradition, to the strength it packs despite its gentle appearance: like a young bull, it deceives with its sweetness and then hits hard. The drink emerged in the port cantinas of Veracruz during the nineteenth century, when the state's sugar cane fields produced spirit in abundance. Barmen began mixing the liquor with the tropical fruits and seeds of the region — peanut, jobo plum, soursop, mamey — creating a family of toritos that today numbers dozens of flavours. Peanut torito is the most popular and widespread, recognised throughout Mexico as a Veracruz speciality. In recent years, toritos have undergone a gastronomic revival: bars across the country feature them on their menus, and at Veracruz fairs and markets the artisan torito stall with seasonal flavours is never missing.

Estimated cost

£8.20

Total cost

£1.03

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

280

Calories

Protein

28g

Carbohydrates

Fat

Fibre

85mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Toast the unsalted peanuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until golden and fragrant. Leave to cool completely.
💡 Toasting is essential for the characteristic flavour.
2
Grind the toasted peanuts in a blender until you have a fine paste. Add the sugarcane spirit and blend for 1 more minute.
3
Add the condensed milk, evaporated milk and ground cinnamon. Blend on high speed for 2 minutes until completely smooth and creamy.
4
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any remaining peanut pieces. Taste and adjust sweetness by adding more condensed milk if desired.
5
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve ice-cold in small cups, shaking the bottle well before each pour.
💡 Keeps for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.