What does a michelada taste like?
A michelada tastes salty, tangy, spicy and fizzy: cold Mexican lager with lime, hot sauce and savory seasonings, served in a chili-salt rimmed glass.
Michelada
beer, lime, salt, chili
A michelada is Mexican lager mixed with lime juice, hot sauce and savory seasonings like Worcestershire or Maggi, served over ice in a glass rimmed with salt and chili. Some versions add tomato juice or Clamato, which makes it closer to a beer Bloody Mary. It tastes like the best version of a beer with lime: cold and fizzy, tangy and salty, with a gentle chili kick and a savory depth. It's light on alcohol and very refreshing with tacos, seafood or a hot afternoon.
Where you’ll see it
On Mexican restaurant and taqueria menus and brunch lists, often with your pick of beer. Some come loaded with shrimp, tamarind candy straws or a Tajín rim. A chelada is just beer, lime and salt.
Order it if you want a light, savory, spicy drink with Mexican food.
Quick questions
- Does a michelada have tomato juice?
- Sometimes. Many recipes are just beer, lime and sauces, while others add tomato juice or Clamato. Check the menu or ask.
- Is a michelada spicy?
- Mildly, usually. Hot sauce and a chili rim give it a kick, but it is more tangy and salty than hot.