Peach Cocktail with Mote (Chilean Chile Mote con Huesillos)

Chile mote con huesillos is a non-alcohol drink found in stands all over Chile especially in the summertime. It is made with dried peaches and mote which is a hulled wheat. If you can’t find mote, a pearl barley can be substituted. You don’t eat the mote it is just used to flavour this slightly sweet refreshing drink. The mote added a depth to the drink that made it seem substantial. This is very Chilean, there is a saying in Chile is it more Chilean than Mote con Huesillos?

8 oz dried peach halves
5 cups water
¼ cup sugar
1 stick cinnamon
lemon or orange peel
1 cup mote or pearled barley, cooked

Combine dried peaches and water and soak overnight in refrigerator to re-hydrate.

In a large heavy pot, pour sugar and cook over medium heat, moving pan frequently but not stirring until the sugar melts and takes on a light amber hue.

Off heat, careful to avoid any steam or sputtering, add one cup of the soaking water from the peaches.
Stir over medium heat until the caramel has dissolved.

Add the remaining soaking water, peaches, cinnamon stick and lemon (or orange) peel.

Return to a simmer and cook until tender, about 30 minutes.

Cool to room temperature then chill until cold.

Add 2-3 Tbsp. of cooked mote or barley to the bottom of a tall glass. Add 2-3 peach halves and top off with juice. Stir in additional sugar or honey to taste.

Serve with a spoon to break up the peaches.

Makes 4 servings.