Are you a little intimidated by cocktails? I was too when I first stocked my home bar, but I soon learned there’s no need to be worried. There are tonnes of simple mixes which you can enjoy at home, using only a small selection of ingredients and tools – with or without alcohol.
The Mojito is a traditional cocktail that comes from Cuba. It is traditionally made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and spearmint served in a highball glass. The perfect mix of sweetness, citrus, and herbaceous flavours complements the rum and has made the Mojito a popular summer drink.
There are many variations for the Mojito, you could swap out the sugar syrup for all manner of liqueurs for more flavour. From Grand Mariner to St Germain elderflower. You can choose an aged rum for a deeper flavour, or do away with the alcohol altogether, like in this mocktail version. It incorporates the bright, earthly flavour of matcha tea with the spicy and citrusy taste of ginger beer along with the lime and mint.
So, don’t be afraid, grab a glass and get mixing!
Ingredients
- 10-12 mint leaves
- 2 limes
- 200ml of Ginger beer
- 2 tsp matcha powder
- 2 tsp Agave Syrup (or simple syrup)
- Ice (crushed or cubed)
Method:
- Start by preparing your cocktail garnish. Peel off a stripe of ginger and a stip of lime peel. Stick the strip of ginger onto a toothpick to form a curve. Twist the strip of lime peel to form a coil like shape, and place around the toothpick/ ginger.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder to each glass and dissolve it with a teaspoon of agave syrup.
- Add the lime into the glass and muddle (gently mash – go too hard and you’ll release bitterness from the leaves) for a while.
- Add ice and a few mint leaves.
- Top up with ginger beer, stir a little and add some ice.
- Add your garnish, some extra mint leaves and serve!
Professional tip: Squeeze the mint leaves before using, to release their oils and rub them around the rim of the glass for an extra hit of minty aroma and flavour.
