Many people across Peru like buying a warm brown slimy liquid from the local friendly health drink salesman each night or each morning.

Called emoliente, the natural remedies contained within each drink, added in differing amounts, are supposed to cure all sorts of ailments.

Annett’s mother drinks one each night that is intended to help her sleep better, and is convinced it works. I drank one a few times last week that was intended to clean my system – it might have worked as I was in the toilet a little more often than usual.

Although I am sure each and every ingredient is good in some way or another for something, I am not convinced that differing amounts of them can cure or help with so drastically different problems. Still, there’s something oddly satisfying having a thick heavy goo fill your stomach on a chilly night.

Tags: customs, emoliente