Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (2024)

My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Drinks » Colombian Refajo (refajo Colombiano)

May 24, 2023 by Erica Dinho · 40 Comments

FacebookPinterestXYummly

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Refajo Colombiano is a traditional and simple co*cktail made with beer, ice and a Colombian soda (Colombiana). It's refreshing and delicious.

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (1)

What is Refajo?

It's a traditional Colombian co*cktail made with beer and “Colombiana”, which is a soda from Colombia. It is a very simple and quick recipe but refreshing and delicious. It is very popular in Colombian restaurants and it is a great accompaniment to our asados or grilled meats.

Colombian Refajo is the perfect drink to serve on a warm day. It's easy to make and sure to please a crowd!

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (2)

Here’s what you’ll need to make Refajo:

You can find the full printable recipe card with ingredients and directions below.

Colombiana: A traditional Colombian soda that taste like Kola. In the USA I find Colombiana in my local Latin food market, Amazon or at Amigos Food online.

Beer: In Colombia this co*cktail is usually made with "Cerveza Aguila" a Colombian beer, But you can use your favorite beer to make refajo.

Aguardiente: Colombian anise flavored alcoholic drink. This ingredient is optional.

Ice cubes: For serving.

Some people like to add sliced fresh oranges to their refajo, feel free to add them if you like.

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (3)

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (4)

This co*cktail is so easy to make as all you have to do is place the ingredients in a pitcher and stir. No shaking, no straining and no bar tools needed.

This drink is perfect for brunch, co*cktails on the porch, or just serve for dinner with grilled beef, pork skewers or steak with chimichurri.

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (5)

How to Serve this co*cktail

You can serve Colombian Refajo is a large pitcher or individual glasses. Keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (6)

More co*cktail Recipes to Try:

Sabajón (Colombian Style Eggnog)

Coco Loco (Coconut co*cktail)

Aguardiente Sour (Orange co*cktail)

Colombian Refajo (Refajo Colombiano) (7)

Colombian Refajo Recipe

Erica Dinho

5 from 40 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course drink

Cuisine Colombian

Servings 4 servings

Calories 324 kcal

Ingredients

1 liter Colombiana Soda
2 liter beer
4 cups ice
3 aguardiente shots optional

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients serve and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 2gSodium: 77mgPotassium: 135mgSugar: 28gCalcium: 27mgIron: 0.1mg

Keyword como hacer refajo, refajo colombiano

Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!

More Drinks Recipes

Limonada De Piña (Pineapple Limeade)Colombian Tree Tomato Juice (Jugo De Tomate De Arbol En Leche)10 Tasty And Simple Cold DrinksMasato De Arroz (Colombian Rice Drink)Colombian-Style Hot Chocolate (Chocolate Caliente)

About Erica Dinho

My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

Author Page →

Reader Interactions

Comments

rebecca subbiah
July 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm

cool love learning about your food, your recipe will be published on monday have a fab weekend Rebecca
Reply
- Erica
  July 17, 2009 at 4:24 pm
  
  Thank you Rebecca!
  Reply
Danielle
July 17, 2009 at 4:15 pm

I'm not usually a beer drinker but this is intriguing. Can you get Colombiana Soda in the states?
Reply
- Erica
  July 17, 2009 at 4:24 pm
  
  Hi Danielle,
  yes, you can find it online at amigosfood.com or Latin stores.
  Thank you.
  Reply
Juju
July 17, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Oh man this sounds delicious and chocked full of calories.
Reply
Felisha
July 17, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Cool! Any type of beer?
Reply
- Erica
  July 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm
  
  Hi Felisha,
  Yes, you can I use your favorite beer. In Colombia we use cerveza pilsen.
  Reply
Soma
July 17, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Perfect timing to post this Erica:-) its weekend. a perfect time to mingle & have a mug (or a jug?) of this when we are running 100 degrees plus outside.
Reply
robert guerrero
July 17, 2009 at 10:56 pm

OMG, I'm rolling on the floor laughing. My Mom is from Cali and we like to drink it on a hot day. Also, sometimes the women like to drink it so they don't get so drunk. Thanks for the post. Brings me back to the homeland!
Robert (Burbank, CA)
Reply
Kim
July 17, 2009 at 11:10 pm

I enjoy your posts so much!! You always have something unique that I haven't seen or tried before.
Reply
Cynthia
July 18, 2009 at 2:54 am

I want my own mug! 🙂
Reply
See Also
Popular Colombian Drinks: A Guide to Colombia's Iconic Beverages - We Like Colombia
Erica
July 19, 2009 at 7:16 am

Thank you all for your continued support.
Reply
Oysterculture
July 19, 2009 at 9:04 am

Ah now this just sounds yummy and refreshing, a perfect thirst quencher for a hot day.
Reply
Pocky
July 23, 2009 at 7:47 pm

It's so hot where I am now. Pass me a big mug, Erica. haha! 🙂
Reply
Respondon
November 17, 2009 at 10:29 pm

Kola y Pola! Whatever happened to that brilliant idea?
Reply
Fercho
April 11, 2010 at 11:47 pm

Hola, my son in law is from Scotlan and they have a drink named Iron Brew that tastes exactly as Colombiana.
Reply
Isabel Cristina
June 04, 2010 at 9:45 pm

No tienes bebidas con panela!!!
que mas tipico de Colombia que una agua de panela fria o caliente...
Your missing recipes with Panela ( made of sugar cane juice) its very typical of Colombia, you will find cold drinks, with some lime juice, or hot...its delicious.....
Me encanta haber encontrado tu pagina, las recetas son faciles de seguir..
Reply
Linda
June 07, 2010 at 11:44 pm

I had the opportunity to try Refajo at a Colombian Pavilion during our Folkorama Days...very enjoyable. Can you tell me if Colombiana Soda is like Cream Soda?
Reply
- Erica
  June 08, 2010 at 8:11 am
  
  Linda- No, It is not cream soda.
  Reply
  - Anonymous
    June 06, 2016 at 10:37 pm
    
    I think it tastes very similar.
    Reply
- Michelle
  August 15, 2012 at 7:08 pm
  
  Linda: Colombiana is a champagne soda minus the alcohol of champagne.
  Reply
- Anonymous
  June 15, 2016 at 11:17 pm
  
  Is a champagne kola
  Reply
soniA
October 12, 2010 at 2:54 pm

For Refajo you can use any type of Red Soda or Orange Soda, it will taste as good as with colombian Soda.
Reply
Dougy EL Paisa
September 07, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Is this pola y cola that is sold in Antioquia?? PLEASE SAY YES!! I LOVE THAT STUFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
- Erica
  September 07, 2011 at 9:04 pm
  
  Dougy- Yes it is!
  Reply
Dougy EL Paisa
September 08, 2011 at 2:39 pm

QUE RICA!!! THANK YOU!!! I miss that so much!!!!
Reply
Natalia Leal Gómez
December 21, 2011 at 11:55 pm

I am Colombian and Colombian refajo alcoholism can be high if he appends a lot of beer, I have 14 years and take refajo since I was 12 years, I would not put a lot of beer, but in hot weather most people are not drunk so much, that this is partly energizing, I have taken more than 6 drinks. In Colombia also be purchased already prepared, is called "Cola & Pola", but I recommend that if you drink it in cold weather, and not being accustomed to this beverage, began to feel dizzy from the second drink, what happened in my case the first time I drank.
Reply
Ann
August 15, 2012 at 5:40 pm

This is very cultural. I had this in Colombia and there was nothing appealing about this drink. There are so many other things about Colombian food that are however.
Reply
Michelle
August 15, 2012 at 7:05 pm

I grew up drinking Refajo. We use Colombiana, Pony Malta (a dark barley type soda), and Heineken (in the USA the taste is the closest to the Colombian beer).
Reply
Robert
March 30, 2013 at 1:10 pm

If you live in the UK ( they might deliver to the continent and Ireland, I'm not sure ) then you can buy colombiana here.
labodeguita.co.uk/product/postobon-colombiana-25ltr-bottle,54043216
Reply
- Robert
  May 28, 2013 at 10:14 am
  
  Or if you don't like ordering things online and live really far away from London like me then Irn-Bru is a good substitute, although you're making it a tad Scottish and it can be hard to find in England (my family is from Scotland) although you can find it if you really look, I think you can buy it in Greggs, of course, if you live in Scotland it's really easy to find (don't go looking for it in the US because your government banned it for some odd reason).
  Reply
debi
May 21, 2013 at 3:31 pm

I provided this for my Columbian ESL student at our dinner last night. He had mentioned it during one of our classes this year.
I found the Columbiana at the Asian/world Market here. It was not at the larger Latino store. They also had cans of Columbian champagne cola - which I wasn't sure was the same. My student said it didn't taste quite like what they get in Columbia, but it was close with BudLite.
I must admit, it sounded like a bad combo, but really was quite good. It is great on a hot day and if you are wanting to limit your alcohol consumption. It's also good with aguardiente - but oh my, that would be so dangerous!
Thanks for the recipe! It was a hit that will be on the menu for future BBQ's.
Reply
Ariesbear
March 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm

I just got back from Columbia... Loved the food: empanadas, arepas and yummy grilled meats. Refajo paired perfectly with all. I am a foodie but I don't tolerate much alcohol so refajo is now my choice for an adult beverage with food. A little bit sweet but not sugary.. It reminds me like a light cream soda. Mixed with a Pilsner is refreshing but you need not worry about an hangover.
Reply
Giancarlo
August 07, 2016 at 9:43 pm

Cerbeza Aguila, Colombiana, helo y aguardiente Blanco del Valle.
Reply
Giancarlo
August 07, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Cerbeza Aguila, postobon soda, helo, aguardiente Blanco del Valle.
Reply
argentinian restaurants
May 11, 2017 at 4:41 pm

I actually adore your post. I read your blog fairly regularly and you're constantly coming out with some amazing things.
I discussed this on my FB and my followers just adored it. Keep up
the great work!
Reply
Aiste
May 15, 2020 at 12:53 pm

The best drink!!! I love it! I've tried it when I was Bogota ❤❤
Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.