It’s hard to say how it happens, but sometimes a food ingredient that’s been around for ages manages to step away from the sidelines and into the spotlight. Remember the obsession with sourdough at the height of the pandemic? Or when everyone suddenly got into Topo Chico and then Ranch Water?
This year, that item seems to be tamarind. The pod-like fruit that hails from Africa, India and the Middle East with a tangy, sweet-sour flavor—a mainstay in various regional cuisines for centuries—is now showing up all over the place. Most recently, spice brand McCormick named it the 2024 “Flavor of the Year” and released a new Tamarind & Pasilla Chile Seasoning blend. It also teamed up with Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer to offer several limited-edition, tamarind-infused menu items next month.
Chances are the designation is influenced by recent internet trends. Sometime last summer, tamarind margarita recipes started making the rounds on social media—and have since blown up. On Tiktok, #tamarindmargarita boasts nearly 70,000 views; one video alone, by user @jennymartinezzz, has more than 55,000 likes. On Instagram, more than 2,500 posts bear the hashtag. One food influencer account, @fedandfit, declared its recipe, “One of the freaking most delicious cocktails I’ve ever tasted.”
You May Also Like: The Best Tequila for Every Kind of Drinker
Given the drink’s widespread appeal, we decided to come up with our own, elevated version. Our tamarind margarita recipe hews closely to a traditional margarita, but with high-quality, flavorful ingredients. That includes silver tequila, caramel-scented agave nectar and bright, crisp orange Cointreau to balance out the sweetness and tartness of the tamarind syrup.
It’s well-balanced and refreshing, but the citrusy and spicy Tajin rim really takes it over the top. One sip and you’ll get why this mouth puckering cocktail has become an internet darling.
How to Make a Tamarind Margarita
Recipe by Jacy Topps
Ingredients
2 ounces silver tequila
¾ ounce Cointreau
¾ ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
½ ounce agave nectar
½ ounce tamarind syrup
Lime wedge, for garnish
Tajin seasoning, for rim
Instructions
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
The post This Margarita’s Secret Ingredient? Tamarind, the ‘Flavor of the Year’ appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
