Tamarind Margarita is a fun version of the famous Mexican cocktail. Tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy, this tequila cocktail will become one of your favorites because is also super easy to make!
If you looking for a 5 de Mayo drink to pair with your chips and guacamole, look no more, let me introduce you to one of my last obsessions…
About
A Mexican Margarita is made of tequila, orange liqueur (like Triple Sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier), and lime juice. It is served in the eponymous margarita glass with salt on the rims.
There are many versions of this classic drink, some including fruits or even vegetables. Margarita de Tamarindo is one of those.
Our recipe for tamarind Margarita is a fun and creative spin on the classic cocktail with a nice sweet-tart kick from the tamarind concentrate that will get you hooked at the first sip.
The refreshing drink is really easy to make so if you looking for a fun, super easy-to-make, and delightful drink to serve to your guests at a party, look no more, this Tamarind Margarita is all you need!
What is tamarind?
Tamarind is a tree from Africa and Asia that also grows in tropical climates such as Mexico and other Latin American countries. Its produce is used to prepare paste, powder, and concentrates that are used in many recipes around the world.
In Mexico, tamarind is used to make beverages, such as Agua Fresca de Tamarindo, candies, and paletas (ice popsicles).
And on top of this, the tamarind seeds are also edible and can be dried and toasted to make snacks, teas, candies, and sauces.
Tamarind is both a fruit and a legume, the tamarind tree is part of the Fabaceae family and its fruit is called an indehiscent legume.
Ingredients
- Tequila: Use any tequila you prefer, my favorite is tequila reposado, but tequila blanco is also acceptable to make this drink.
- Tamarind: I’ am using tamarind concentrate, but feel free to use fresh pods to make homemade tamarind pulp.
- Lime: Use fresh lime juice for the cocktail and some for garnish if you want.
- Syrup: Use simple syrup, but before making the recipe, check if your tamarind concentrate or paste contains sugar already and adjust the quantity accordingly.
- Hot salsa: Use Mexican hot salsa such as Valentina, Tapatío, or even better, Chamoy! This salsa has a sweet and tangy kick that goes perfectly with this cocktail.
- Chili powder: I love using Tajín chili powder because it is not as spicy as other chili powders out there and it provides the right balance of spiciness, saltiness, and sourness.
Why I am using concentrate?
First because is easier to find in many countries where tamarind pods aren’t available, and second because it makes this recipe super easy and quick. You don’t have to spend time preparing the pulp!
The tamarind concentrate is sold in many Latin and Asian food stores and on Amazon, the photo below shows you the brand I used, but you can use any brand you prefer to make your margarita de tamarindo!
How To Make It
To Make tamarind margarita we’ll start by preparing the glasses where to serve it. You can use any cocktail glass you prefer.
- Place chili powder (Tajín seasoning) in a dish and some hot salsa (Chamoy) on another deep plate.
- Dip the rim of a margarita glass first into the hot sauce and then into the salt mixture. You can also garnish with a lime wedge if you prefer.
- Place about a cup of crushed ice in a cocktail shaker and pour in the tequila and orange liqueur.
- Then add the tamarind concentrate, lime juice, and syrup.
- Shake and pour into the margarita glasses you prepared before.
- Enjoy immediately!
Make a Pitcher
- Prepare your ingredients x 6 (9 oz tequila, 9 oz tamarind concentrate, and so on.)
- Prepare the rims of 6 glasses as explained above.
- Put tamarind concentrate in a pitcher and then pour in tequila, orange liqueur, tamarind concentrate, lime juice, and syrup.
- With a spoon, mix until all ingredients are combined.
- Add 1 cup of sparkling water and crushed ice, and mix to combine.
- Serve on the glasses you prepared before.
Notes
- Don’t allow it to become watery. Enjoy your Margarita cocktail as soon as it’s made, Margaritas aren’t supposed to be served with crushed ice because it dilutes the drink, but since this is a popular practice, just make sure you don’t have your drink sitting for so long. Enjoy right away!
- Make it frozen. If you like frozen margaritas, you can turn this recipe into one of them, just add to a blender with more ice and process for 30-40 seconds.
- Mix in other fruits. Give another spin to your tamarind margaritas by mixing in other flavors, mango, pineapple, or kiwi are the perfect combinations. Or if you feel adventurous, try this amazing avocado margarita too!
Foods to pair
Enjoy your Margarita de Tamarindo cocktail with any of those Mexican appetizers:
FAQ
What does Tamarind margarita taste like?
Tamarind Margarita has a sweet and sour/bitter taste. And tequila adds its earthy and strong flavor, making the perfect combination for a refreshing and tropical cocktail.
Where can I find tamarind in the grocery store?
The concentrate can be found in the aisle with bottled fruit juices or where you usually find powdered preparations for beverages (like kool-aid and such).
If you looking for fresh pods at some Latin or Asian stores, they are usually placed in baskets near the fresh fruits and sold by weight.
Can I use white tequila to make this cocktail?
Yes, of course, many people prefer to use tequila blanco (white) instead of reposado because they think the smoky flavor of reposado tequila is too strong and will cover the other flavors, but I think is just a matter of preference.
More Mexican Cocktails
- Clamato Michelada. If you love bloody mary cocktails, this Mexican beer cocktail is for you!
- Mango Michelada. The classic Michelada recipe gets a fun and tropical twist with this recipe. This is the perfect drink to sip on those hot, summer nights.
- Frozen Strawberry Margarita. Another margarita cocktail with a sweet touch.
Tamarind Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz tequila (reposado or blanco)
- 1 ½ oz tamarind concentrate (or 1 oz tamarind paste)
- ¾ oz lime juice
- ¼ oz simple syrup (read notes)
- 1 cup crushed ice
For the rim
- Chamoy salsa (or other type of Mexican hot salsa)
- Tajín chili powder (or other type of chili powder)
Instructions
- Place chili powder (Tajín) in a dish and some hot salsa (Chamoy) on another plate.
- Wet the rim of your glass into the hot salsa and then dip it into the chili powder. Set aside.
- Place crushed ice in a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in tequila, tamarind concentrate, lime juice, and syrup.
- Shake until everything is combined.
- Pour into prepared glass.
Notes
- Prepare your ingredients x 6 (9 oz tequila, 9 oz tamarind concentrate, and so on.)
- Prepare the rims of 6 glasses.
- Put tamarind concentrate in a pitcher and then pour in tequila, orange liqueur, tamarind concentrate, lime juice, and syrup.
- With a spoon, mix until all ingredients are combined.
- Add 1 cup of sparkling water and crushed ice, and mix to combine.
- Serve.
- If you like frozen margaritas, just add to a blender with more ice and process for 30-40 seconds.
- Give another spin to this cocktail by mixing in other flavors, mango, pineapple, or kiwi are the perfect combinations, you can use juice or blend the fruit with ice to make a frozen margarita.
Nutrition Information
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Maricruz Avalos Flores is a Mexican cook and photographer living in Italy where she shares authentic Mexican & Italian recipes that can be easily made at home using easy-to-find ingredients.
I’d like to make a pitcher,it refers to Orange liquor and no amount given or mentioned in the recipe. Please respond asap.
A super simple and perfect recipe for parties! I made a pitcher of tamarind margarita following this recipe and it was perfectly sweet, tarty, and everyone loved it.
My best friend suggested your this recipe in our WA group, we’re a group of 5 chicks that reunite every month for drinks, dinner, and just some chit-chat. We went with your suggestion and made a pitcher of tamarind margarita.
It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Finding the tamarind concentrate wasn’t that hard because we live in Long Beach and we have some Mexican stores around here. Thank you, this has become now one of our fav drinks.
Mari! Me encantó la receta! Tenía yo un concentrado de tamarindo en mi alacena y ya estaba medio harta de hacer agua de tamarindo, buscado recetas que hacer con este di con tu margarita y wow! Nos encantó a mi esposo y a mi!!! Ahora ya quiere su tamarind margarita cada que regresa del trabajo jaja
Saludos desde Texas!
We enjoyed tamarind margaritas last week end along with your tostilocos recipe. Both were a big hit in our party. Can’t wait to try more recipes, I’ve bookmarked a bunch and I will make them this summer. :)
I was looking for a recipe to use my tamarind concentrate and this came up, can’t wait to try it! :D I’ve made mango margaritas, strawberry margaritas and watermelon margaritas, but never thought of making tamarind margaritas!