Paloma with Fresh Juice

by Posted on

We have been having the coldest Winter for thirty years. I suppose my Canadian blogging friends would laugh out loud if I told them the exact temperatures, but after years of mild Winters even the need to wear warm gloves or hats is annoying.ย  I expected I would be craving hot tea, mulled wine, grog or other warm drinks, but I am surprisingly attracted to energising cocktails made with fresh Winter fruits. First I spent at least one weekend enjoying gin with Seville orange juice, then I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful Kiwi Rum. Last weekend, the coldest of this year, seemed a bit merrier thanks to the deliciously tangy Paloma.

I have already written about Paloma a long time ago, but I thought the unnoticed post should be given a second chance and this delicious cocktail merited more popularity. Paloma means “dove” in Spanish and the cocktail is not very well known outside of Mexico, where itโ€™s usually made with grapefruit soda. The first time I made it I used a mixture of fresh juice and sparkling water instead and this healthy modification was so flavoursome, I have never bothered to look for grapefruit soda. Even though it has a light pink colour, it is not a sweet, delicate, girlie cocktail. Even if one adds a bit of syrup, the grapefruit tanginess remains and tequila’s strong taste is well perceptible.

This cocktail always reminds me of one of my acquaintances, whom I invited for the first time and who assured me she had no food allergies, dislikes and was happy to eat and drink everything. Then, when I proposed a grapefruit cocktail she started to laugh and said she hadn’t thought about it, but it was the only food item in the world she wasn’t allowed to touch. In fact, she had had an organ transplant and grapefruit juice inhibits the action of many drugs, for example the ones she takes daily. I would have never guessed the innocent looking grapefruit is not that innocent…

I have found the recipe on this Mexican website containing many Tequila-based drinks. I have also skipped the first step since I donโ€™t always like to have a salty glass rim.

Preparation: 5 minutes

Ingredients (serves 1):

10 ml lime juice
pinch of salt
50 ml tequila
juice from 1/2 grapefruit +30 ml sparkling water (or 80 ml grapefruit soda)

(a couple of teaspoons syrup or confectioner’s sugar, if the grapferuit is very sour)

ice

(lemon juice+salt for the glass rim)

If you wish, moisten a big cocktail glass rim with a bit of lime juice and dip into a plate full of salt.

Combine the remaining ingredients, adding as much ice as you wish. Stir and serve.

 

Published by Sissi

50 Replies to “Paloma with Fresh Juice”

  1. Such a blushingly pretty color! I know of some guys who wouldn’t be caught dead with a pink drink in their hands ๐Ÿ˜€ Their loss!

    1. Thank you so much, Ping. I totally agree. I am sure many men would enjoy tequila and grapefruit (even the pink grapefruit) combination.

  2. Great way to start Monday morning with a ‘non-girlie’ cocktail, served with a pink tissue:).
    I like the numbers – 50ml tequila and 30ml water:) Thats how it should be.
    I remember you mentioning how grapefruit reacts, its good to keep in mind as I guess many people are unaware

    1. Mr. Three-Cookies, are you making fun of my serious cocktail? ๐Ÿ˜‰ I really enjoy the innocent looking girlie colour and the tangy, serious taste. That is why I try to use pink grapefruit here.

      1. In the words of a wise man “never make fun of a cocktail, and always give complements to a tissue, especially if its a pink one”:)
        But seriously, the cocktail sounds awesome, I would like it, I like tangy citrus based cocktails. It doesn’t look pink to me, more like light orange. But the tissue is another story. Where did you buy it from? Do they have more in stock:)

          1. Oh, no! You are not harsh but funny! Especially in the previous comment ๐Ÿ™‚ I want to keep it, if you don’t mind ๐Ÿ™‚

        2. Ha ha! Mr. Three-Cookies, I love your sense of humour! Actually it’s a napkin I once bought on sales. I have put it because I wanted something brighter. The cocktail looked a bit boring. In general I find photographing cocktails very difficult.

  4. A Monday morning drink for us Sissi ~ Woohoo! :). No sympathy from me on the annoying cold front ๐Ÿ˜‰ but I will say that this cocktail looks delicious and warming! And I agree, nothing like fresh juice to remind us of warmer days…I think I would love this one with the lime and tequila (conjures up memories of margaritas on the dock in the summertime… sigh). What a pretty February pink colour Sissi!

    1. Thank you so much, Kelly. Why should we only drink during the weekend? Anyway, from what I have been hearing for years, it’s better to drink small amounts regularly than torture ourselves with Friday and Saturday catch-up drinking nights.
      I wish there were more bright colours outside too ๐Ÿ™ I miss Spring!

    1. Thank you, Jeno! I know how Mondays can be sad, so I’m very happy it has made you smile today ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. I love grapefruit and this would be perfect for valentine’s day in the states. do Canadians celebrate Valentine’s Day? Well here in Michigan, it’s been unseasonably warm, which is nice but my kids and I want lot’s of snow so we can build snow forts and a snowman! Maybe next year!

  8. Jealous you’re having a winter! We haven’t had one really at all here in CA. Guess I need to go visit family in Ohio or South Carolina if I want to get any sense of a winter! this drink sounds lovely though. I wouldn’t mind a glass. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  9. Dear Sissi,

    I can’t help but this of Paloma Picasso as I read through this blog post ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m glad it’s not a “girlie” cocktail even with that dash of syrup. I have never been a fan of straight Tequila shots but this might just be suprising and refreshing!

    1. Thank you. I don’t like tequila shots either, but I like its dry and serious taste in cocktails. Moreover tequila is perfect in sour or/and tangy company, my favourite cocktail flavours.

  10. This year is coldest winter for you? Here we have the driest winter, I think. Not much rain and no natural snow on mountains. The temperature wise, it’s between 50F and 60F, so I shouldn’t complain much.

    I have all these ingredients at home. I’ve been tired and feel like drinking (eh? Did you hear what I just said?). I might try it tonight. Maybe less tequila version. =D

    1. Nami, I have just checked: it’s 18ยฐF and a horrible wind blows! (It was much colder at night).
      If you are tired, this cocktail would certainly give you energy!

  12. What a great cocktail! I don’t think I’ve had a cocktail with grapefruit. Sounds quite interesting. Gonna have to give this a try!

  13. What a fabulous drink! i love its pretty color.

    I really wish to thank you for the kind and heartwaring comment you left on my blog!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    1. Thank you, Rosa and good luck once more! We are so many blogging friends to wish you all the best, something must change very soon ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Hi Sissi – can you believe I never actually tried Tequila! I’ve tried most other spirits – does it taste “like” any other spirit, or is it a taste all to itself?

    Your drink looks so pretty, and I just love grapefruit!

    1. Thank you, Charles. Tequila is very violent on its own (I don’t think you would like it, I remember you told me vodka is violent; tequila is much much more violent. Tequila has a very special taste and aroma, I don’t think it’s similar to anything. You should rather try it first in a nice margarita or Paloma.

  15. never heard of paloma before so I’m glad you decided to bring it up again! not very sure about tequila myself too, but I do like the sound of all those citrus fruit juices together in a refreshing cocktail!

  18. Wow Sissi! This drink looks so pretty…like the grapefruit with lime…very refreshing.
    Sorry for the cold weather as I do not handle well…and hope this week is a bit warmer ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. You know Sissi, you are truly my cocktail genius…
    This looks so perfect, the color itself is so inviting…

    You know I am not much fan of winter and here in southern california we hardly have any… I hope the harsh winters does not last too long at ur end…

    1. Hi, Reem. Thank you for the compliment! You are so lucky to live in such a warm climate. This is my really first harsh Winter here and I hope the last one.

  21. You know grapefruit is the one fruit that I don’t really like. However, I feel a little energized just looking at your refreshing pink cocktail. Funny that you are having such a cold winter, as we are experiencing one of our mildest. Maybe that’s why I have such bad cold — the temperatures have been so up and down.

    1. I don’t know why, but I used to like grapefruit even as a child… I have always liked not typically “child food” (chili, sour taste, bitter…). I prefer however the pink grapefruit, which is always sweeter, but not as bland as the new “sweetie” variety they sell now here. I hope your cold is completely over! Doctors always say viruses have easier life when temperatures are high, but on the other hand going out into the freezing cold and wind often ends up in a slight cold.

    2. I don’t know why, but I used to like grapefruit even as a child… I have always liked not typically “child food” (chili, sour taste, bitter…). I prefer however the pink grapefruit, which is always sweeter, but not as bland as the new “sweetie” variety they sell now here. I hope your cold is completely over! Doctors always say viruses have easier life when temperatures are high, but on the other hand going out into the freezing cold and wind often ends up in a slight cold.

    3. I don’t know why, but I used to like grapefruit even as a child… I have always liked not typically “child food” (chili, sour taste, bitter…). I prefer however the pink grapefruit, which is always sweeter, but not as bland as the new “sweetie” variety they sell now here. I hope your cold is completely over! Doctors always say viruses have easier life when temperatures are high, but on the other hand going out into the freezing cold and wind often ends up in a slight cold.

  22. I have my gin with grapefruit juice which makes me probably slightly immune to the bitter taste, but I like this version with tequilla and some lime juice! Interesting fact about the juice too!

Comments are closed.