Tamarind Margarita recipe

Name: Tamarind Margarita
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1 cocktail
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 2 oz Blanco Tequila; 1 oz Tamarind Purée or Concentrate; 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice; 0.5 oz Cointreau or Orange Liqueur; 0.25 oz Agave Syrup

Tequila, lime and tangy tamarind in a savory-sour Margarita with a chili-lime rim.

Method: Shake · Glass: Rocks glass, half chili-lime or salt rim · Time: 5 min · Difficulty: Intermediate · Family: The Sidecar Family

Ingredients

2 oz Blanco Tequila (100% agave)
1 oz Tamarind Purée or Concentrate (seedless)
0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
0.5 oz Cointreau or Orange Liqueur
0.25 oz Agave Syrup (adjust to the tamarind's tartness)

How to make a Tamarind Margarita

Run a lime wedge around half the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the moistened half in chili-lime seasoning or flaky salt, then fill the glass with fresh ice.
Add blanco tequila, tamarind purée, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds, until the shaker is fully chilled and the tamarind is smooth and integrated.
Fine-strain over the prepared fresh ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve immediately.

Garnish

Half chili-lime or salt rim and a lime wheel.

Pro tip

Tamarind varies from bright and sour to sweetened and jammy. Start with the smaller agave measure, then let fresh lime sharpen the finish rather than adding more sugar.

History of the Tamarind Margarita

Tamarind Margarita is a modern savory-tart riff on the Margarita. It uses tamarind's distinctive sweet-sour fruit character alongside tequila and lime, often with salt or chili-lime seasoning to emphasize the drink's tangy, lightly savory edge.

Flavour profile

Tart, Tangy, Citrus, Agave

Variations

Margarita — Return to the classic tequila, orange liqueur and lime original.
Prickly Pear Margarita — Use bright cactus-pear syrup for a lighter fruit expression.
Passion Fruit Margarita — Use aromatic passion fruit for tropical tartness.
Mango Margarita — Use mango nectar for a rounder tropical direction.
Guava Margarita — Use fragrant pink guava for a floral-tropical profile.
Spicy Pineapple Margarita — Pair pineapple with measured jalapeño heat.
Spicy Margarita — Bring in jalapeño or chile for a drier citrus-and-heat version.
Mezcal Margarita — Use mezcal for a smoky version of the classic structure.

Practise making the Tamarind Margarita in the free Virtual Bar game.