Cool Summer Drinks

Drink	Basic Ingredients
Banana Daiquiri	Banana, rum, lime, maraschino liqueur
Bellini	Peach puree, raspberry puree (or peach schnapps) and Champagne
Blood Orange Margarita	Sugar, triple sec, tequila and fresh blood orange juice.
Tom Collins	Gin, lime, club soda, lemon juice
Sangria	Red wine, fresh fruit, club soda, brandy
Pina Colada	Rum and pineapple juice
Tequila Sunrise	Lime, tequila, grenadine, creme de cassis
Singapore Sling	Tequila, grenadine, creme de cassis, sloe gin, cherry liqueur, gin, club soda
Margarita	Tequila, triple sec, lime juice
Mojito	Rum, mint leaves, syrup, bitters, club soda, lime
Mojito Martini	Rum, mint leaves, lime
Pomegranate Margarita	Tequila, lime, triple sec, pomegranate juice
PogWash - Pog Mai Tai	POG, rum, mai tai mix, pineapple
Seabreeze	Cranberry, grapefruit, vodka
B-52	Kahlua, Baileys, Grand Marnier
Naranjita	Rum, ginger ale, orange juice
Coconut Milk Horchata	Rice, water, coconut milk, cinnamon, sugar, rum
Cosmopolitan	Vodka, cranberry, lime, and triple sec or Cointreau
Jell-O Shots	Jell-O, vodka
Lemon Drop Cocktail	Citron vodka, lemon juice and sugar

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Drink	Basic Ingredients
Agua de Jamaica	Jamaica (hibiscus flowers) sugar, water
Agua de Tamarindo	Tamarind pods, water, sugar
Aguas Frescas	Fresh fruit, water, sugar
Agua Preparado de Limon Rallado	Lime zest, water and sugar (recipe below)
Licuado de Leche	Fruit, milk, honey or sugar (recipe below)
Banana Nana	Coconut cream, sweet and sour, lime syrup, banana
Tropical Frappe	Passion fruit juice, cream of coconut, pineapple chunks, banana
Mock Blood Orange Margarita	Uses margarita mixer, lime juice and blood orange juice.
Mojito (nonalcoholic)	Use fresh limes, lime sparkling water
Frozen Margarita (nonalcoholic)	Uses non-alcoholic triple sec and Cuervo non-alcoholic Margarita mix.
Sangria	Grape juice, soda, fresh fruit
Pina Colada.	Pineapple juice, coconut cream
So-you-can-see-a Sunrise	Cranberry, orange juice, lemon juice, ginger ale
San Francisco	Pineapple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, sour mix, grenadine
Coconut Milk Horchata	Rice, water, coconut milk, cinnamon, sugar
Virgin Mary	Tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, lemon, cukecumber
Horchata	Rice, almonds, cinnamon & lime

Licuado (Liquados)

A popular Mexican alternative to soft drinks the licuado combines fresh fruit and milk and honey or sugar then blended to a froth.  This is the Mexican equivalent to the "smoothie".  Here is a basic recipe:

Licuado de Leche
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar or to taste
3/4 cup fresh fruit such as banana, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, strawberries, watermelon or guava.

Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. Strain through a sieve to remove seeds or fibrous bits.

Licuados are also made with water, Licuado con agua with a slightly higher concentration of liquid to fruit and normally sweeter.


The Clay chirmolera (grinder) shown above is used in Oaxaca for making agua preparado de limon, as well as other grinding tasks.

Agua Preparado de Limon Rallado

A complex sounding name for a very simple classic Oaxacan drink.  Just take 8 under-ripe dark green limes, zest them (perfect job for a Microplane Zester...).  Add the zest to a quart of water and steep for at least one hour.  Strain the mixture though cheesecloth or a fine sieve making sure to press on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Add sugar to taste (about 3/4 to one cup) chill and serve in tall glasses over ice. 
You can use the limeade to make margaritas or freeze the mixture in ice cube trays and pop into drinks.

This drink mixes well with vodka for a refreshing cocktail.

Buying Limes

Key limes are "true" limes and are commonly grown and used in Mexico.  Key limes are more flavorful and juicy than the common grocery store (Persian) lime.  For bargain prices, try your local Mexican market where these limes are normally sold for around 10 or 20 for a $1.00.