Is leche merengada a healthy drink?

Is leche merengada healthy?

It is a dessert. Leche merengada, a cold Spanish drink, is made from milk infused with cinnamon and lemon peel, sweetened with sugar and lightened with beaten egg whites. It gives some protein and calcium from milk, but sugar is a main ingredient, so enjoy it occasionally.

What is in it?

One recipe on Fascinating Spain uses 750 ml milk, 60 g sugar for the milk and 50 g for the meringue, a lemon zest, a cinnamon stick and two egg whites. Other recipes use different amounts.

Sugar

That recipe is about 110 g of sugar in 750 ml, so every glass is sweet. Cut the sugar to your taste, but note that the meringue needs some sugar to hold its shape.

Raw egg white

The whites are not cooked, so there is a small risk of salmonella. Use very fresh eggs, or use pasteurized egg whites. Pregnant women, older adults, young children and people with weak immunity should be especially careful.

Milk allergy and lactose

It is a dairy and egg dish. Anyone with a milk or egg allergy should avoid it, and lactose intolerant people can use lactose-free milk.

Ways to make it lighter

• Use semi-skimmed milk if you prefer less fat.
• Reduce the sugar slowly.
• Serve a small glass instead of a large one.
• Use pasteurized egg whites.

How often?

There is no official guidance on leche merengada itself. Health agencies advise limiting added sugar, so treat it like other sweet desserts: a small glass now and then rather than every day. Serve it cold and finish it the same day, since egg whites are involved.