In Colombia, it is commonly drunk with a hint of lemon, much the way tea is consumed.

[3] In the hot form, sometimes milk or a chunk of cheese is added in place of fruit juice.

In Costa Rica, panela, locally known as tapa de dulce, is combined with hot water or milk to make agua dulce ("sweet water"), a common breakfast drink.

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.

[citation needed] Today, aguapanela has gone from being a blue-collar drink to one that can be found in upscale café boutiques in Colombia as a tea.