Dateline Peru: Now THAT'S a cup of coffee

As you travel the Global Road, an occassional oasis of a Starbucks or Seattle's Best, or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf appear on the horizon to bring comfort and relief. But it's always important to sample the local brew to really taste the culture. So, if you head to Peru, you might want to be aware of this version of a Frappucino.

LIMA, Peru — Carmen Gonzalez plucks one of the 50 frogs from the aquarium at her bus stop restaurant, bangs it against tiles to kill it and then makes two incisions along its belly and peels off the skin as if husking corn. She's preparing frog juice, a beverage revered by some Andean cultures for having the power to cure asthma, bronchitis, sluggishness and a low sex drive. A drink of so-called "Peruvian Viagra" sells for about 90 cents.

Gonzalez adds three ladles of hot, white bean broth, two generous spoonfuls of honey, raw aloe vera plant and several tablespoons of maca — an Andean root also believed to boost stamina and sex drive — into a household blender.

Then she drops the frog in.

Once strained, the result is a starchy, milkshake-like liquid that stings the throat.
At least 50 customers a day ask for steaming beer mugs of frog juice at Gonzalez's countertop-only restaurant in eastern Lima, and many treat the concoction as their morning — and afternoon — cup of coffee.

What I like about the drink is that it's a multivitamin that deals with so many different health issues. I think I'd prefer this with crushed ice. Hmm good.