- Method
- Built
- Glassware
- Pint glass
- Ice
- Cubed ice
- Time
- 3 min
Michelada
Chelada
Beer prepared with lime and salt, and in many regions with sauces and chile. Refreshing, savory and a Sunday ritual in Mexico.
Ingredients
- 355 mlMexican lagerOne bottle or can
- 30 mlLime juice
- 2 dashesWorcestershire sauce(optional)
- 2 dashesSeasoning sauce(optional)
- 3 dashesMexican hot sauce(optional)
- to tasteChile salt
Volume before dilution: 385 ml
Step by step
- 1
Rim a cold mug with lime and salt or chile salt.
- 2
Add the lime juice and, if using, the sauces.
- 3
Add ice (optional) and pour the beer slowly, tilting the mug.
- 4
Stir gently and add the rest of the beer as you drink.
GarnishSalt or chile-salt rim
Allergensgluten
Flavor profile
Story
What 'michelada' means changes by region: in some places it is simply beer with lime and salt (what others call a chelada), elsewhere it carries sauces, chile or tomato-clam juice. No version is 'the right one'; all are part of the tradition.
Technical notes
Pour the beer gradually so it does not foam over on contact with salt and lime. A frozen mug keeps it cold without much ice.
Serving
By day, with seafood or antojitos.
Origin
Disputed origin · siglo XX / 20th century · Mexico
Several stories about its name and origin exist; none is documented with certainty.
Variations
Chelada
Just beer, lime and salt.
Michelada con clamato
With tomato-clam juice, popular in the north and on the coast.
Substitutions
- Non-alcoholic beer for a lighter version.
Pairings
- Shrimp cocktail
- Smoked marlin tacos
- Chicharrones with salsa
Techniques
Infusions & tinctures
Infusions and Tinctures
Pulling flavor from chiles, fruit, herbs or spices into a spirit or syrup. The key is controlling time, ratio and proof, and tasting often.
Beginner · 6 min read
Texture
Texture Modification
Saline solutions, acid adjustment, viscosity and dilution control are quiet tools that change how a cocktail feels in the mouth.
Advanced · 6 min read
Where to drink it
Cervecería Arroyo
San José del Cabo, Los Cabos · $$
Demonstration profile. A brewery pouring Vienna-style lagers, seasonal beers and house micheladas.
El Faro
Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos · $
Demonstration profile. A neighborhood cantina with botanas, well-made palomas and cantaritos to share.
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Sources
Version 1 · Updated October 20, 2026