Tropical drinks are a fun addition to any celebration, with popular options including margaritas, mojitos, lava flows, and blue Hawaiis. Garnishing is important, and they are typically served in cute cocktail glasses.
Exotic tropical drinks are a fun and festive way to add to any celebration. Whether you’re hosting a luau or just looking for a way to cool off, tropical drinks can be the key to a relaxing island vibe. These drinks are often alcoholic, but can be modified to remove the alcohol and leave behind a delicious fruity cooler.
The margarita comes from Mexico and is popular in restaurants. The drink is a combination of tequila, ice and fruit juice. Margaritas are served straight over ice or mixed with ice for a frosty treat. Traditionally, these drinks are made with a lime-based juice, which can be made fresh or bought in stores as “margarita mix.” Any fruit juice or fresh fruit can be used, based on what you prefer or have on hand. Coconut, pineapple, and strawberry are popular flavors for this south-of-the-border tropical drink.
A Cuban drink that is gaining popularity is the Mojito, a super refreshing elixir. To make a traditional Mojito, combine lime juice, white sugar, and fresh mint leaves. The mixture must be mashed together to extract the flavor from the mint. Add a shot of light rum per drink and fill glasses with seltzer or sparkling water. A “Dirty Mojito” is an alternative drink, made with dark rum and brown sugar.
Hawaii is home to many popular tropical drinks, perfect for serving to accompany a luau or tropical meal. For a lava flow, mix ½ cup of strawberries with two ounces of light or coconut rum until smooth. Pour this mixture into a tall serving glass, then rinse the blender quickly. Blend a banana with coconut cream and pineapple juice. Slowly pour the banana mixture into the serving glass and watch the beautiful streaks of strawberry lava seep through the glass.
For a less creamy tropical Hawaiian drink, try a colorful blue Hawaii. Invented in 1957 as a tropical drink to introduce a new liqueur, this drink may be the brightest of all tropical drinks. To make one, mix vodka and Blue Curacao with one cup (8 oz) of pineapple juice. Traditionally the concoction is served over ice, but you can also mix it with a scoop of ice for a margarita-like texture. Fire up some Elvis, serve and enjoy.
Garnishing your tropical drinks is one of the most important stages of preparation. To make a salt or sugar rim, fill a shallow bowl with water and another with salt or sugar. Turn a glass upside down and dip the rim first into the water, then into the coating. Another popular way to garnish tropical drinks is to impale a pineapple wedge or whole strawberry on the rim of your glass. For tropical drinks garnished without fruit, never underestimate the appeal of a paper umbrella or decorative stick.
Tropical drinks are usually served in cute cocktail glasses. Traditionally, a margarita is served in a wide-brimmed margarita glass, a Mojito or Blue Hawaii on the rocks in a tall straight glass, and a lava flow in a curvy hurricane. However, an oversized wine glass is an acceptable substitute for one of these. Garnished or plain as you like, any of these drinks are sure to bring a little tropical breeze to your day.
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