Kiwi and Rum Cocktail

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Kiwi is probably my favourite Winter fruit. Its joyful green colour and refreshing taste give me energy and make me forget the gloomy and/or cold weather outside. I am also conscious of the precious vitamin C it contains (twice as much as a lemon) as well as antioxidants, potassium and vitamins A and E. Kiwi is usually associated with New Zealand, but is nowadays cultivated all around the world. The fruits I have recently been buying come from an organic orchard in France.

Kiwi was not always called this way. Its most popular variety is native to China and the fruit was initially called “Chinese gooseberry”. It started to be cultivated in New Zealand at the beginning of the XXth century and its exportation boomed after the Second World War. When, in the 50s US importers suggested another name (not bearing the word “Chinese”) New Zealanders have chosen the name of their famous flightless bird.

A couple of days ago I saw a kiwi cocktail on Shizuoka Gourmet’s blog. The cocktail was created by Masayoshi Tainaka at “Le Refuge” bar in Shizuoka City (click here to see their website in Japanese) and proved even more extraordinary than it looked. It is refreshing, delicate, slightly tangy and I love the unusual crunch the kiwi seeds give. It is one of the most exceptional cocktails of my life and definitely the healthiest alcohol drink I have ever had. Thank you, Robert-Gilles, for this wonderful discovery!

I have slightly modified the original recipe doubling the fruit amount to create a long drink and adding orange liqueur to improve the complexity (maybe my French kiwis were blander than the Japanese ones?). Click here to see the original, unadulterated recipe.

Before I pass to the recipe details, I would like to play the game I have been tagged for by Charles (5 Euro Food).Β  This bloggers’ game consists in telling some personal details about oneself and then tagging other bloggers to play it.

1. Describe yourself in seven words (Since I find it difficult to boast of my qualities, I have chosen seven negative words)

Impatient, clumsy, anxious, lazy, inaccurate, undisciplined, messy.

2. What keeps you up at night?

A fascinating book I am reluctant to put down.

3. Who would you like to be?

It might sound pretentious, but I don’t admire anyone in his or her totality, so I would like to take the qualities and skills from many people.

4. What are you wearing right now?

Nothing special, but I have perfectly styled hair ( I have just come back from my hairdresser πŸ™‚ )

5. What scares you?

Many things… About blogging? Just like Charles said, data loss is the scariest thing.

6. What are the best and worst things about blogging?

I will not be very original here and answer like most bloggers. The wonderful people I meet from all around the world, the things I discover and learn, the opinions I can exchange, the motivation it gives me to improve my cooking and, with more difficulty, photography skills as well as my written English.

The worst are certainly the technical problems which happen to almost every blogger… Personally I find it depressing when I am not able to take a satisfactory photo of an exceptional dish I absolutely want to share.

7.What was the last website you visited?

Charles’s blog of course (Five Euro Food). I have copied and pasted the questions πŸ˜‰

8. What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself?

I couldn’t choose just one thing. My answer would be “check the question nr 1”.

9. Slankets – yes or no?

I had to check what slankets are (I was right that blogging improves my English!). I am speechless! My home clothes look haute couture in comparison! I would put it on only if someone paid me 1 mln $.

I have just found this:

10. Tell us something about the person who tagged you.

Charles is the author of the blog called 5 Euro Food. He has a great sense of humour, his culinary interests are very eclectic (British, French, Swedish and Tunisian cuisines are only a part of his repertoire) and he is a curious, passionate cook. Charles is one of the best friends I have met through blogging and I sincerly hope one day we can have a real, not only virtual, conversation and maybe an excellent meal, worthy of crazy gourmets that we both are.

Now it’s time to invite 5 other bloggers to talk a bit about themselves (of course as long as they are willing to!). I would like to invite (actually 6, in alphabetical order):

Arudhi from A Box of Kitchen

Barb from Profiteroles and Ponytails

Jeno fromΒ  Weeknite Meals

Kelly from Inspired Edibles

Mr. Three-Cookies from Three-Cookies and Easily Good Eats

Nami from Just One Cookbook

Now, let’s go back to the kiwi cocktail.

TIP: If the kiwis are very sweet, add lime juice. If they are sour, add some confectioner’s sugar or syrup.

Special equipment: a small food processor is very useful for individual cocktails (I have a baby food mixer)

Preparation: 5 minutes

Ingredients (one long drink):

2 kiwis (peeled)

60 ml (about 2 oz) rum

30 ml (about 1 oz) Cointreau, Triple Sec or Grand Marnier

lots of ice

(confectioner’s sugar, or, as Masayoshi Tainaka advises, wasanbon satou/ε’ŒδΈ‰η›†η ‚η³–, or syrup)

(lime juice if kiwis are very sweet)

Put all the ingredients in a food processor (except for the ice) and mix until smooth.

Adjust the taste, adding sugar or lime juice (or nothing).

Pour into a high glass, add several big ice cubes and serve.

 

 

Published by Sissi

54 Replies to “Kiwi and Rum Cocktail”

  2. Ooo … what a super color for the cocktail! And I love that you didn’t strain out the seeds … I love that bit of crunch too!

    1. Oh, my finger went for the “submit” button too quickly … wanted to say that question #4 sounds like a crank call type question. And #9 … love the commentary LOL!!

      1. Thanks a lot, Ping πŸ™‚ Question nr 4 is weird…
        I am very impatient to read your answers (I saw Charles had tagged you too!)

  3. Now that had to be the most 7 honest things anyone said about themself! Kiwis are in abundance in my market now, I’ll have to check this out…never thought to make a drink with them!!

    1. Thank you so much, Linda. I have never thought I could make a kiwi cocktail too, but now I think it will be my regular weekend treat πŸ˜‰

  4. I would never have thought of using kiwi in a cocktail but perhaps in a smoothie. It sounds really intriguing and is so beautiful that I must try it. Pointing out your flaws instead of your strong points was brave and funny at the same time.

    1. Thankyou so much, Karen. I am happy you have appreciated my answer.
      Me neither! I would have never thought of using kiwi in a cocktail, but this alcoholic version of smoothie is excellent.

  6. Very nice cocktail. Cocktail recipes 3 Fridays in a row? Lets see if this trend continues.
    Very interesting answers, nice to read them. You are modest when you describe yourself with those words – impatient etc.
    Thanks for tagging me, I will answer soon

    1. Thank you, Mr. Three-Cookies. I am happy you appreciate my answers. I hope you are willing to play the game too πŸ˜‰
      Actually two cocktails and one infused vodka (which will be used in cocktails maybe too!). Sometimes I have moments when I content myself only with wine, but sometimes I need new cocktail discoveries. Moreover, both passionfruit and kiwi proved so excellent in cocktails I simply had to share them!

  7. Ahhh Sissi, thank you for tagging me! I received an award and a tag this week, looks like it’s time to start thinking hard about interesting facts that goes on in my little world…

    BTW, I really REALLY doubt the adjudicative you chose represent you well!

    The Kiwi facts are so interesting to read, the drink is so beautiful and cheery, surely it will brighten up anyone’s day! Have a great weekend Sissi!

    1. Thank you so much, Jeno. I hope you will have time to play the game too! (As for the adjectives, I really am all these!).

  9. I have never thought of mixing kiwi with rum but it looks like a drink that I would enjoy! Nice to read some of the things about you. Have a good weekend, Sissi!

  10. ah so nice to see your answers(: i got tagged too, but haven’t got down to doing it >< good thing it was sth that tasted good and was simple to make.

  11. Dear Sissi!
    Well done indeed!
    It certainly looks beautiful!
    Thank you so much for the link!
    More coming by the way as I still have to interview four more bartenders before they start common cocktail series!
    Best regards,
    Robert-Gilles

    1. Dear Robert-Gilles,
      Thank you for the compliment. I am happy you don’t disapprove of my French Cointreau/Grand Marnier twist πŸ˜‰ (Actually I have just had another kiwi rum with Grand Marnier… heavenly…).
      I am looking forward to read about the Japanese bartenders’ recipes and the kumquat cocktail recipe you have mentioned (I have bought some kumquats yesterday!). Thank you once more for this healthy but exciting cocktail idea!

    1. Dear Robert-Gilles, thank you so much for the link. I didn’t know you already had it in your previous posts. Now guess what I’ll be having as an apΓ©ritif tonight πŸ˜‰

  14. You know I can taste that crispy naughty kiwis from your pics….
    This looks fabulous, I can bet one cannot stop at one drink with this one… Deliciously Dangerous…
    Love it!!

  15. Sissi, the kiwi is absolutely delightful in this drink – I agree, a splash of life in the doldrums of winter is greatly welcome. Thank you for the tag; what fun. You’re too funny focusing on your negative attributes… I can think of plenty of positive ones! I had no idea what slankets were either – thanks for the video! ;); I hope the conclusion of your book is awesome :). Have a brilliant weekend.

  16. Oh, I love kiwis, too, and your cocktail looks amazing! And I think your blogger friends could easily come up with 7 positive attributes….kind, generous, and on and on…

  17. Thanks for all the info about the kiwi fruit and what a great cocktail! And great answers to the questions too. I’m looking forward to checking out the blogs you have tagged.

  18. Aw, you’re too sweet Sissi – saying such nice things about me πŸ™‚ …and thank you for playing along and the links back to me too! You don’t need to say only negative things about yourself though – I can think of a great many words to describe you which are all positive! Imaginative, kind, inspiring – it was you who introduced me to the idea of blending up chicken with tofu after all!!

    That Slanket video – “LOL” πŸ˜€

    You know, kiwis always make my mouth feel a bit weird. I can eat them fine but I really find they leave an unpleasant “furry” feeling in my mouth. Maybe it’s a slight allergy, or just a normal reaction because I think they’re insanely high in vitamin C. Either that, or just bad memories from when I was a poor student one day and all I had available to eat in the house was a bag of kiwis, a jar of olives and… oh, that was it actually :p. I ate the kiwis and felt really bad :/

    Regardless, your drink looks fabulous – the colour, the little seeds inside – really wonderful, and I bet the rum would take off the sharpness, leaving just a nice kiwi background flavour!

    1. Thank you, Charles, for the kind words. Frankly I felt awkward saying positive things about myself, the negative ones came easier, especially since most of them concern my cooking activities too.
      “Furry” feeling? Are you sure you took the skin off? (Just joking!) I think kiwis were not that cheap when I was a student… Unfortunately I cannot imagine any meal made out of kiwis and olives πŸ™‚

  20. OMG… I didn’t understand what “Slanket” was from Charles’ post, and I saw the video now… I HAVE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What does it make me…? LOL. This blanket is great for watching TV – it’s warm from shoulder to leg (do I sound like commercial?). Kids have their own (princess and Cars2), too. Maybe this is lazy (or smart) American thing.

    Anyway, your kiwi drink looks yum. I’m not sure if I can take rum but as long as it is not too strong… When I visit you one day, you will train me with all these fruity drinks, ok? And strawberry shochu is on me. =)

    It was fun reading about you, but I have to say you are too modest! Thanks for tagging, but I think you know more about me than anyone else! LOL.

    1. Haha!!! Maybe it is American… The idea of comfort regardless the look. I have blankets and sometimes use them while watching films, although I’m rarely that cold. The idea of a blanket with sleeves etc. seems completely crazy.
      You are invited to the cocktail training whenever you want!
      Thank you for the kind words. I’m looking forward to read your answers! I don’t know you that much (I didn’t know you had slankets πŸ˜‰ )

  21. Dear Sissi,

    At least I know a little bit more about you know as I am quite curious about your background, things you like and dislike since following your wonderful blog! Kiwi fruit is really popular here in Australia especially to make pavlovas. My favourite is the gold / yellow kiwi fruit which are a little less tart and sweeter than the green ones although they are a little more expensive. I am sure it would be wonderful with this rum cocktail and looks just as vibrant and refreshing!

    1. Thank you, I am happy you have enjoyed reading my answers and that you liked the cocktail idea.
      We also have the yellow ones here, but I prefer green kiwis because of the tartness you mention. The yellow ones are too sweet for my taste.

  22. Sissi, I’m absolutely in love with this cocktail ..! Especially since my husband is crazy about kiwis and will surely appreciate having it! Brilliant! πŸ™‚

    1. Thank you so much, Gourmantine. I am happy you like it (and I’m sure every kiwi fan would appreciate it!).

  23. A good cook definitely keeps me up at night too. I love this post. It was really interesting to learn more about you. And this cocktail… it looks delicious! I’m always envious of people who post about cocktails/other alcoholic drinks since I’m not legally old enough to drink them.

    1. What a cute typo πŸ˜‰ Thank you, Kyleen, for the compliment. You know, a kiwi smoothie is delicious even without rum! (I think it would be nice with some orange syrup or juice!)

  24. I’m hoping to be able to run out to the store to pick up a few kiwis — so that I can make this for dinner tonight. It sounds wonderful! (My husband is out and I’m alone with the girls.) I think it will make me feel like I’m somewhere warm! Thanks for the tag Sissi — I will try to post my responses soon. I was away on business on all week and I’m quite behind in my posting and commenting!

    1. Thank you, Barb. It is definitely a perfect cocktail to cheer one up, so I hope you can make it tonight! I am looking forward to reading your answers!

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