Virgin pina colada, also called Pinita colada is a drink that is sweet, creamy, cool and fragrant and like anything made with coconuts, which I love dearly, it is delicious.

Originating from Puerto Rico and quite popular in Nigeria, Virgin Pina Colada is a non-alcoholic version of the cocktail. It is made with cream of coconut but can also be made using either coconut cream or coconut milk (canned or freshly squeezed ). Another version, Skinny Pina colada is made using coconut water, I haven’t tried it yet nor have I tried using reconstituted coconut powder.

I use canned coconut milk because that is what is readily available where I live. Since they all have different levels of thickness and concentrations of coconut flavour, the quantity needed is different for each. So you will need to adjust for that.

Learn How to make fresh homemade Coconut milk.

Freshly squeezed pineapple juice is commonly used for Pina Colada but I use store-bought juice. This gives the drink a sweeter taste. The addition of a few drops of bitters will balance the sweetness and also give your drink another level of flavour, for example, lime, Angostura or any available bitters.

Pina colada can either be blended or shaken to give a thick, richly flavoured and refreshing drink with a tell-tale layer of thick foam at the top. Although you can also mix in a jug, stir and pour over ice cubes. It won’t be as thick as the other methods but it will satisfy the craving for Pina colada.

To make Virgin Pina Colada

1 cup coconut milk
1 cup pineapple juice
2 teaspoons sugar
4 cups crushed ice
Glacéd cherry or grapes and pineapple slices for garnish

In a blender, put coconut milk, pineapple juice, sugar, and some crushed ice.

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Pour into stemmed glasses, and garnish with the cherry and pineapple slices.

Note

Learn How to make fresh homemade Coconut milk.
If using coconut cream, use 1 1/2 cups pineapple juice, if using ‘cream of coconut’, use 2 cups pineapple juice.
The sugar can be skipped if you are using store-bought boxed or canned pineapple juice which is already sweetened.
If you have sugar syrup, you can replace the sugar with it.
The ice cubes can be omitted in the blender and put in the serving glasses. Blend every other ingredient and pour over the ice.
Add a few drops of bitters to balance the sweetness of your drink and to give it another level of flavour, eg. lime, Angostura or Alomo Bitters.

You should also make and enjoy my Nigerian Chapman, Healthy Beetroot Mocktail, Afterglow Mocktail or Kunnu Aya.