Margarita with an Indian twist

A hint of desi ingredients can add a playful touch to the classic margarita

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! This popular quote, which also doubled up as lyrics to a popular Tim Aaron party number perfectly captures the craze around margarita, a trend that’s quickly trickling down to India this summer. The Mexican master-cocktail is served in the eponymous margarita glass that is rimmed with salt to help cut down the burning sensation of the spirit as it washes down your throat. Throw in a dash of lime or limejuice to the tequila, and you have the perfect counter to dehydration woes.

Indeed, the queen of drinks is tailor-made for the Indian weather — more so than any other western cocktail. Chillies, of course, are vital ingredient of these libations, highlighting the preference in Mexican and Indian tastes. It acts as a testimony to its popularity in the country.

Tequila innovations have gone wild with DIY margaritas this season, and it can’t get better. An icy green slush that is known to light up taste buds on a hot summer afternoon can incorporate a hint of Indiannness with the addition of tomato or orange. Those summer strokes can be countered by adding watermelon pops that make the tequila wash down even smoother.

Be warned, though. It doesn’t take much for this drink queen to get to your head. Before you know it, the heady margarita would have caught you off-guard on a hot Friday afternoon!

The margarita’s core ingredient, the tequila, makes for a great element to experiment with and I try to incorporate these in menus that include margaritas with hints of the fruity lychee and strawberry. An interesting concoction is called Amigo and consists of tequila, luxardo liqueur, Manama blueberry puree, lime juice and orgeat syrup. Another refreshing drink is the Diablo, which consists of cucumber wheels, agave nectar, tequila, mango puree, lime juice and ginger beer.

Gregory D'Souza is the beverage manager for JSM Corporation