Summer is Mojito Season!!
I love putting together gift baskets so I couldn’t resist creating a Mojito Drink Basket to kick off Summer.
And also included a small jar of sugar, a bottle of fresh lime juice, a mint plant and some limes.
I found a small crate basket at Michaels and filled it with the items you would need to make the summer drink (just add alcohol).
Spring is in the air, and you can find a Mojito, or a variation of such, on just about every spring/summer cocktail menu in the USA. Strawberry, watermelon, blueberry, and peach are some of the more common flavors people tend to highlight. As far as historians can tell, the origin of the Mojitio dates back to 16th-century Cuba. It is a traditional Cuban highball and one of the most popular drinks across the Americas. One of the origin theories goes back to 1586 when Richard Drake sailed to Havana after his raid on Cartagena de Indias and dealt with a scurvy and dysentery epidemic on the ship. The native Indians of South America had ingredients for “medicinal remedies,” including aguardiente (crude high-proof “fire water”), mint, sugarcane, and lime juice. Other history experts believe that African slaves who worked in the sugar cane fields in Cuba may have concocted something similar, as it was sweet and very refreshing to enjoy in the heat of the summer. The name Mojito also has fascinating origins…. MOJO is a Cuban spice made from limes– and MOJO is also an African word that means “to cast as the spell.”
The ingredients are quite simple: rum, mint, lime, sugar, and a splash of sparkling water. Those proportions vary regionally. Some bartenders muddle the mint, and some simply shake the drink with the mint in the shaker. Many people believe that the mint should be strained out of the actual drink with just a fresh sprig on top, and just as many people insist that the mint should all stay inside. I don’t know if there is a correct or incorrect way, as long as the result is a balanced and delicious drink. I like to strain the mint out so that the person drinking it does not end up with pieces of mint in their teeth! A creative way to switch up the classic recipe is to add seasonal fruits, and I have included a few recipes below. I always follow the standard recipe and adjust the lime and sugar slightly based on the sweetness/tartness of the fruit you are using. Another way to change up a Mojito is to switch out the mint for another herb. A Mojito made with basil is one of the most refreshing and aromatic drinks I have ever had. Now let’s talk about the best part: what type of rum should you use? The earliest Mojito was written as using unaged Cuban rum. I don’t necessarily think it HAS to be Cuban because you can have some fun, funky flavors from other styles of rum too. I believe it should be an unaged rum, which will lend to a lighter, crisper cocktail that showcases fresh herbs. Here are a few of my twists on this beautiful classic cocktail.
5 ways you are ruining your MOJITOS (and how to fix them)
FAQ
When should I drink Mojito?
Is mojito mint a perennial or annual?
Is it OK to order a Mojito?
Is Mojito a national drink?
What is a classic Mojito?
This Classic Mojito recipe from London Brazil is a great example of that. Mint-infused simple syrup made with fresh mint is combined with rum, fresh lime juice, a bit of extra muddled mint, and club soda – it’s a party in a glass, with that traditional flavor that mojito-lovers keep coming back for. Is it really the best?
What do mojitos taste like?
Thanks to white rum, fresh mint, lime, and a little bit of sugar, mojitos taste fresh and light, making them perfect for warmer weather! Mojitos are easy to make for one or for a crowd. For the best tasting cocktail, don’t skip the fresh mint and freshly squeezed lime, they’re essential on this one.
Is a mojito a holiday cocktail?
And don’t worry about it not being festive enough. Give the ingredients a coconut tweak and you’ve got a marvelous cocktail overflowing with the holiday spirit. A mix of rum, lime juice, sugar, soda, and mint, the typical mojito is a summer ballad with refreshingly bright and citrusy notes.
When is National Mojito day?
National Mojito Day is celebrated every July 11 in the US. Share this trivia! Muddle the mint leaves, sugar and a splash of soda in a collins glass. Add lime juice, rum and crushed ice. Top it off with soda water. Garnish with mint sprigs or lime wedge and serve.