Aguapanela or agua de panela is a drink native to southern
Central America and northern South America. It literally means
"panela water" as it is an infusion made from panela which is a
hardened, concentrated sirup from the cane. It is fairly common
in Colombia, making this country the largest consumer of panela
per capita.   Aguapanela is made by melting fragments of panela
in water and stirring until the fragments are entirely
dissolved. The drink may be served hot or cold, with lemon or
lime often being added. In the hot form, sometimes milk or a
chunk of cheese is added in place of fruit juice.   Aguapanela
is the traditional drink served with many dishes in the
colombian cuisine, especially in the paisa region, such as to
accompany the bandeja paisa and the sancocho soup, and it is
often also served alone as a thirst quencher.  Many claims have
been made about the beneficial effects of aguapanela, based on
beliefs such as having more vitamin C than orange juice or as
many rehydrating minerals as Gatorade