It’s 5 O’clock somewhere! Reason enough to kick back and relax with this sweet and spicy cocktail. Sweet guava juice and homemade, a spicy citrus/jalapeno simple syrup pair with tequila for one of the tastiest margaritas around. Make it a cocktail party by serving these sweet and spicy cocktails with a Pineapple Habanero Cheese Ball, a few Extra Flavorful Jalapeno Poppers, and maybe a bowl of tortilla chips with some Creamy Cilantro Jalapeno Sauce.
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When I lived in Houston, Ninfa’s was the Tex-Mex restaurant of choice for a weekly girl’s night out. We loved it! They always had special margaritas for each season. Spring brought about a fruity, sweet margarita with a spicy kick. Sheer perfection.
This is my take on Ninfa’s sweet and spicy margarita. It incorporates my interpretations of a really great margarita – a little orange flavor along with fruit of some sort, some tang from lime or lemon juice, and tequila of course.
WHAT IS A GUAVA?
Guava is a tropical fruit with a lovely pink flesh that is sweet and tastes like strawberries mixed with a pear. It is just delicious.
These days, guava juice or nectar can be found in most grocery stores. Just look in your international food isles or in a Latino grocery. 2 brands that are very good are Kern’s or Goya.
VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE
Use what you like to make cocktails. That’s the best part of having a happy hour at home!
- I like using Silver tequila for margaritas, but use either what you have or what you like.
- Can’t find guava juice? Try mango nectar, peach nectar, or even apricot nectar. All would give a tropical flavor to the drink.
- The orange flavor is something that can come from both a liqueur, zest, and juice or just zest and juice. Again, tailor the drink to your tastes.
- Let’s talk about the rim. Just salt? Want to go salty and sweet, then use both salt and sugar. Add spice? Throw in some chili powder.
- How about heat? If you really like heat, allow the jalapeno to steep for a longer time. Leave in the seeds and veins for some serious heat.
TOOLS TO MAKE THE RECIPE EASIER:
- Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons-6 Piece – I love the long, rectangle design. They even fit into small spice jars.
- Stainless Steel 24 Ounce Cocktail Shaker Bar Set with Measuring Jigger and Mixing Spoon – pretty, functional, and kinda fun to play with.
- Cuisinart CTG-00-3MS Set of 3 Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers
- Messermeister Pro-Touch Citrus Zester Stainless Steel Kitchen Tool, Black
- Zak Designs 0204-9035 Melamine, 3.5″ by 3.5″, Citrus Reamer
- Cuisinart FCT193-18 French Classic Tri-Ply Stainless 3-Quart Saucepot with Cover – This pot is one that goes from the stovetop, or the oven, right into the dishwasher.
- Libbey Margarita Party Glasses, Set of 12 , Clear , 9 oz
Keep happy hour going all week long with these cocktails:
- Cool Lychee Martini
- Fresh Strawberry Key Lime Margaritas
- Classic Cadillac Margarita
- Rum Runner Cocktail
- Blood Orange Mojito
JALAPENO GUAVA MARGARITA
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2
Description
This sweet and spicy cocktail is a delightful surprise on your tongue. Sweet guava juice, the flavors of orange and lime, and a spicy, citrus jalapeno simple syrup make a delicious margarita with the heat of jalapeno. It’s perfect for a warm summer evening.
Ingredients
For the citrus / jalapeno simple syrup:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 large jalapeno peppers, sliced thinly
- Zest of 1 lime
- Zest of ½ an orange
For the rim:
- 2 teaspoons margarita salt or Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
For the margaritas:
- 3 ounces Silver Tequila
- 1 ounce Cointreau or orange liqueur
- 3 ounces citrus / jalapeno simple syrup
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 2 ounces guava juice
- Lime slices and jalapeno slices for garnish
Instructions
Make the syrup:
In a large saucepan over high heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a full, rolling boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When the sugar is completely dissolved, remove the pot from the heat.
Stir in the jalapeno slices, lime zest, and orange zest. Cover and allow to steep for at least 1 hour. The longer the mixture sits, the stronger the flavor and heat.
Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the syrup into an airtight container, like a Mason jar, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Meanwhile, make your rimming mixture:
In a shallow dish, combine the margarita salt, sugar, and chili powder. Mix till well combined. Set aside.
To assemble the cocktail:
Rim your margarita glasses with a slice of lime and turn upside down into the salt, sugar, and chili powder mixture. Set aside.
In a cocktail shaker, combine all the ingredients. Fill the shaker with ice and shake until the outside of the cocktail shaker is icy cold.
Strain into the glasses.
Garnish with a lime slice and a slice of jalapeno, if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Starters-Cocktails
- Method: Stir
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: sweet and spicy cocktails, margaritas, cocktail hour, fruity cocktails, Cinco De Mayo, jalapeno cocktails
