"The Piña Colada.. A Pirate's Favorite Drink"

The Birth of The Piña Colada

Puerto Rico is the nation where the Piña Colada was born and baptized in 1954 by Mr. Ramón "Monchito" Marrero who at the time, was a bartender at the Beachcomb Bar of the Caribe Hilton hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and since then, the Piña Colada has traveled the rest of the world.

Although there are rumors from some other Caribbean nations that want to believe and convince the world that their country is the birthplace of the worldwide famous Piña Colada, there is one particular historical evidence that describes this drink as an authentic Puerto Rican drink, and that is that it was a drink made of coconut, pineapple, and rum that the famous Puerto Rican pirate Roberto Cofresí (spanishlised from Kupferschein) Y Ramírez de Arellano prepared to raise the morale of his crew. For centuries, Puerto Ricans made healthy mixed tropical fruits such as coconut and pineapple for their juices and refreshments, but thanks to this Puerto Rican "Robinhood" pirate, we can enjoy this mix refreshing juice of coconut and pineapple with rum.

Who was Roberto Cofresí

The most legendary explorer on the coasts of Puerto Rico, Roberto Kupferschein Ramírez de Arellano, better known as the "Pirate Roberto Cofresí" was born in Cabo Rojo on June 12, 1791. He was the son of Franz von Kupferschein and Maria Germana Ramirez de Arellano.

Although he was known as the Pirate Cofresí, his real name was Roberto Kupferschein Y Ramírez de Arellano. His father, Franz Joseph von Kupferschein, was an Austrian aristocrat, , from a distinguished family.
Upon arriving in Puerto Rico Franz Joseph married Maria Germana Ramirez de Arellano, daughter of a renowned family both in Puerto Rico and Spain. With her, he had four children: Ignacio, Juana, Juan Francisco, and Roberto. In the coat of arms of the Cofresí family, the surname is written as it was originally, Kupferschein,

The Shield of the Kupferschein-Cofresí Family

Along with his brothers Ignacio, Juan Francisco and Juana, he grew up and studied in the Guaniquilla neighborhood of the young town of Cabo Rojo, founded in 1771. Roberto, whose German surname Kupferschein was Spanishised as Cofresí (probably to facilitate his pronunciation), married Juana Creitoff.

Cofresí stood out as a sailor from his youth, in his first boat called "The Mosquito". His outings on the high seas were part of the contraband that characterized the eighteenth century in Puerto Rico. This was a very common practice among coastal settlers, who illegally obtained items such as clothes, tools, liquor, and other products from foreign vessels that approached the beaches of the Island. The adventures of Pirate Cofresí on her schooner Ana encompass the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Although likely to have received protection from the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, it is believed that he often took refuge on the sheltered shores of the island of Mona, Puerto Rico. Cofresi shared his booties with the needy. He was considered as the "Robin Hood" version of Puerto Rico. It is believed that some of Cofresí's treasures are still hidden in the caves of Sabana Seca, near a restaurant called "La Guarida del Pirata Cofresí".

Cofresí was finally captured after a bloody confrontation with Spanish and US North American vessels. As a result, Cofresí and ten of his men were executed in Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, San Juan de Puerto Rico on March 27, 1825. For the poor and exploited, he was a national hero that fought for justice and for Puerto Rico's independence, but for the elites and the Spanish colonizer, he was a criminal, in today's term, a terrorist.

Piña Colada Recipe:

Ingredients
1 can of coconut milk
1 can of coconut cream
2 cups white rum (optional)
3 cups pineapple juice

Process
Add all the ingredients in the blender with plenty of ice at high speed until the ice is completely crushed.
Serve in tall glasses, with slices of fresh pineapple

Preparation:

All ingredients are mixed and put into a blender. You can also put it in a shaker with crushed ice. All ingredients are mixed and stirred until creamy liquid remains. Serve in a glass with ice and garnish with a piece of pineapple, and add a cherry. Salud... Viva Roberto Cofresí... Víva Puerto Rico!!!