Colombian Avena is a traditional and popular cold drink. It's refreshing, creamy and very easy to make.
What is Avena?
It means oats in English and it’s a traditional and popular Colombian drink that is rich, creamy, filling and delicious. It's perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack with pandebono or empanadas.
It is my mom’s favorite Colombian drink that is great with breakfast or you could serve it at any time of the day.
What you Need to Make this Drink
The printable recipe card to make Colombian avena with ingredients and instructions is below.
Oats: I recommend using old-fashioned oats to make this avena recipe.
Milk: You can your favorite milk. I prefer using whole milk, because it makes the texture of the avena creamy and smooth.
Water: To cook the oats. You can add more water if you prefer a thinner drink.
Spices: Cinnamon and cloves.
Sugar: You can adjust the sugar amount to your taste.
How to Make Colombian Avena
Place the water, milk and oats in a medium pot over medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon.
Add the cinnamon stick, ground cloves and sugar and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 more minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool.
Place the oatmeal mixture in a container and refrigerate for a least 3 hours.
Discard the cinnamon stick and place the mixture in a blender and blend for 2 minutes. Add more water if you like a thinner consistency.
Serve cold.
More Drinks to Try
Refajo (Beer and Soda Cocktail)
Avena Colombiana Recipe (Oatmeal Drink)
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned oatmeal
- 4 cups milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Pinch ground cloves
- 3 ½ tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Place the water, milk and oatmeal in a medium pot over medium heat and cook about 15 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon.
- Add the cinnamon stick, ground cloves and sugar and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 more minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Place the oatmeal mixture in a plastic container and refrigerate for a least 3 hours.
- Discard the cinnamon stick and place the mixture in a blender and blend for 2 minutes. Add more water if you like a thinner consistency.
- Serve cold.
Columbia rail
thank you for sharing
Lisa
Have you ever tried it with brown sugar instead of white? prefer brown sugar but hope it won't be too strong!
Johanna
Hi Erica. Thank you for the recipe. My mom made this for me all the time as a kid and on winter days, it's my favorite treat from the neighborhood bakeries.
- If you have a chance, would you mind adding a comment on how to adapt the recipe for steel cut oats (if possible)? Thanks again!
carina
But you need to grind the oats first! Must be from powdered oats or it is not autentico
Gina
I remember this years ago made by my extended Colombian family. I would also get in when visiting New York. This is exactly perfect.
Harold A
Erica, thanks for the recipe! It just came out perfect... The kids loved it!!! It brought back childhood memories and I'm now building new memories for them! 😉
Jessica
Ya he hecho esta receta varias veces y queda deliciosa la avena. Gracias por la receta.
Laura
Made this today and it's amazing! Thanks for the recipe!
Jessica
Loved it thank you for this recipe!!
Conny Nichols
Tjere could never be a day at the beach without avena helada when I was growing up. Nothing like a tall ice-cold glass of avena helada on ice at the beach. This brings a lot of wonderful memories Erica. And for your information, this mixture make the healthiest, most nutricious and best home-made popsicles. My kids grew up in Florida and I made these for them all the time. They used to bring all their neighborhood friends to share the popsicles with. Try these, they are fantastic.
Lida
Thank you! I remember having this as a teenager in Bogota. Yum...
MARGARITA
INSTANT OATS OK?
Erica
I use old fashioned oats.
nathalia
Hola Erica.
Gracias por esta receta. Soy colombiana, vivo en Francia con mis hijos y mi esposo y desde que trajimos de Colombia un paquete de avena helada instantanea he querido hacer una version "home made". Hoy la intento y la pongo a prueba de mis mas duros jueces: mis ninnos. Felicidades por tu blog tan completo y por las fotos muy lindas que expones, bravo!
Carlos
Hey Thanks Erica,I was hoping to make a nice avena and here I am
Cheers desde Australia!
Susan
I made this for the first time last weekend....oh so yummy! Especially after the spices spend a day or two mingling. I take a small bottle to work for a yummy and satisfying morning snack!! Thank you!!!
Lina
I made this yesterday and It was delicious. Like my mom's!Thank you!