Poncha is a traditional Madeiran drink made with sugarcane spirit, honey and fresh lemon juice. It is mixed by hand and served in small glasses, with a sharp citrus flavour and enough honey to round it out. Passion fruit and orange versions give you other ways to try it. For a first glass, look at Funchal’s Old Town or make poncha part of a visit to Câmara de Lobos or Serra de Água.
The ingredients are simple. The choice comes down to the fruit, the bar’s recipe and whether you want a quick stop in town or an outing elsewhere on the island.
What is poncha made from
The essential spirit is aguardente de cana, Madeira’s sugarcane rum. Visit Madeira’s guide to traditional drinks describes the classic poncha ingredients as sugarcane spirit, honey and lemon. The rum is produced from fermented and distilled sugarcane juice.
Fresh lemon gives the drink its acidity, while honey softens the edge. The mixture is worked with a wooden mixing tool called a mexelhote, also written mexelote. Watching the drink being mixed is part of the interest: the honey needs to blend into the citrus and spirit.
Poncha is a mixed drink. The rum is its base, so buying a bottle of Madeira Rum gives you an ingredient for making poncha at home.
Which poncha flavours should you try
Start with lemon if you want to get to know the rum, honey and citrus combination. Then try a fruit version if something on the menu appeals. Maracujá means passion fruit, and tangerina means tangerine.
| Version | Main fruit | What to expect |
| Lemon poncha | Lemon | A sharp citrus drink balanced with honey |
| Orange poncha | Orange | Orange flavour alongside the sugarcane spirit and honey |
| Poncha de maracujá | Passion fruit | Passion fruit’s distinctive aroma and tartness |
| Poncha de tangerina | Tangerine | A fragrant citrus variation |
You may also see poncha à pescador, or fisherman’s poncha. Visit Madeira links that style to the drink’s origins in Câmara de Lobos. Ask the bar how its fisherman’s version differs from the regional one, since recipes and names can vary between places.
The fruit tells you about the flavour. It does not tell you how much rum has gone into the glass.
How strong is poncha
There is no single alcohol percentage to assign to every freshly mixed poncha. The strength depends on the rum, the quantity poured and how much juice and honey are added. A sweet or fruity version can still contain a substantial measure of spirit.
If you are making it at home, check the rum bottle’s ABV and measure what you pour. A ready-bottled poncha has its own labelled strength. Those are different things from estimating the alcohol in a glass mixed at a bar. Use the small serving as a reason to taste it slowly and notice the balance.
Where to try poncha in Madeira
Funchal is the convenient starting point if you want to fit a glass around dinner. Serra de Água offers a traditional tavern stop, while Câmara de Lobos lets you explore the fishing town associated with the drink.
| Place | Where | Good for |
| Venda Velha | Rua de Santa Maria 170, Funchal | Freshly made poncha in the Old Town |
| Mercearia da Poncha Zona Velha | Rua de Santa Maria 154, Funchal | Another poncha stop on the same street |
| Taberna da Poncha | Serra de Água, Ribeira Brava | A tavern with roots in an old grocery shop |
| Câmara de Lobos bay | Câmara de Lobos | A harbour walk and poncha in the town linked with its origins |
Venda Velha and Mercearia da Poncha in Funchal
Venda Velha is on Rua de Santa Maria in Funchal’s Old Town. Its operator describes a space inspired by the island’s old grocery shops and meeting places, with poncha made to order using fresh fruit and sugarcane spirit.
Mercearia da Poncha Zona Velha, at number 154 on the same street, is another option from the same group. Its offer centres on regional sugarcane spirit and tropical fruit flavours, with lupin beans and peanuts to accompany the drinks.
Both are useful choices when you want to try poncha in Funchal without organising an island excursion. The Old Town setting makes it easy to combine the stop with a meal.
Taberna da Poncha in Serra de Água
Taberna da Poncha is in Serra de Água, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava. The owner’s account traces the business back to her grandfather’s grocery shop, which also served drinks.
The old-shop character remains part of the appeal, including the business cards left on the walls. Its published history describes lemon and orange poncha alongside the fisherman’s version. Choose it when you want the bar itself to be part of the outing. Arrange the journey so the person driving can leave the alcoholic tasting to the passengers.
Câmara de Lobos for poncha beside the bay
Câmara de Lobos is a good place to connect the drink with the fishing town in its story. The official guide to Câmara de Lobos bay describes a waterfront village with bars, restaurants and colourful fishing boats.
Spend time around the harbour, then choose a bar for a freshly mixed poncha. This option suits a visit built around the town itself, with a drink as one part of the afternoon.
A simple poncha recipe to make at home
This home version follows the lemon-and-honey method in the Madeira Rum poncha recipe, using 50 ml of rum for its stated measure. It makes a small batch to divide between two small glasses.
You will need:
- 50 ml Madeira sugarcane rum
- The washed peel and freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- Remove a few thin strips of lemon peel, leaving most of the white pith behind, then squeeze the lemon.
- Press the peel gently in a sturdy mixing jug to release its oils.
- Add the juice, rum and honey. Mix thoroughly with a mexelhote until the honey is incorporated. A small whisk is a practical home alternative.
- Strain into small glasses and serve freshly mixed.
- Taste the citrus and honey balance before serving. Lemon size and acidity vary, so the same spoonful of honey will not produce an identical result with every fruit.
How do you serve poncha
Serve it freshly mixed in small glasses, with a snack alongside. On Madeira you may be offered a dentinho, a small accompaniment that can include peanuts or lupin beans. The drink belongs comfortably in a bar stop or an evening out with food.
For homemade poncha, make a small amount for the occasion. If you buy a premixed bottle to take home, follow its storage instructions rather than applying the handling advice for an unmixed bottle of rum.
Poncha is also a different experience from the bottled limoncello and meloncello served in Italy. Here, the freshly mixed juice, honey and spirit are the point of the drink.
Working a poncha stop into your Madeira trip
For a first taste, we would keep it simple: choose one of the Funchal stops if you are staying in the city. Add Serra de Água or Câmara de Lobos when the surrounding area is already part of your plans.
Our Portugal travel guide helps put the island into a wider holiday choice, while the Funchal section of our Portugal nightlife guide gives you another starting point for an evening out.
Frequently asked questions
What does poncha taste like
Lemon poncha combines citrus sharpness, honey sweetness and the flavour of sugarcane spirit. Passion fruit, orange and tangerine versions change the fruit flavour and the balance.
Is poncha made with rum
Yes. Its traditional base is Madeiran aguardente de cana, a spirit made from sugarcane juice and also known as Madeira Rum. Honey and citrus turn it into the mixed drink.
Where can you drink poncha in Funchal
Venda Velha and Mercearia da Poncha Zona Velha are both on Rua de Santa Maria in the Old Town. Their operator describes poncha made with regional sugarcane spirit and fruit.
What is the alcohol percentage of poncha
Freshly mixed poncha varies with the spirit and recipe. Check the labelled ABV on a premixed bottle, or ask the bar about its preparation. The sweetness does not measure the strength.
Is there a non alcoholic poncha
Some bars offer an alcohol-free version. Taberna da Poncha says it developed one for visitors accompanying those drinking the traditional recipe. Ask which fruit options are available.
