The mojito, Cuba’s national drink, may have earlier origins than the late 19th century. Some argue that pirates in the 16th century invented similar drinks. The mojito became popular in the US in the 1980s and saw a resurgence in the 2000s. The basic recipe includes mint, seltzer water, lime juice, rum, and sugar. The drink is served on the rocks and garnished with mint and lime.
The mojito is Cuba’s national drink, which many claim was invented in the late 19th century. In reality, the rum drink, flavored with lime and mint, may have much earlier origins. Some argue that the “pirates” of yesteryear may have invented drinks similar to the mojito, perhaps in the sixteenth century. The first mojito may have been a combination of a variant of rum, aguardiente, and that swordsmen of old like Sir Francis Drake, who might have called the drink “The Dragon,” or El Draque, introduced the drink to Cuba.
In the United States, especially since traveling to Cuba is very difficult, the mojito was often thought of as a new invention in the 1980s, but its history far predates that. It became a very popular drink in the United States, and then people’s favor for the drink declined considerably. In the 2000s the mojito began to enjoy a resurgence in popularity and remains a frequently ordered drink in bars across the United States. Companies like Bacardi have made the most of the cocktail enjoyment by advertising themselves as “the” rum to use in all mojitos.
The basic mojito recipe is a combination of the following:
A few sprigs of mint
Seltz water
Lime juice
Rum
Sugar or sugar cane juice.
Many suggest sugarcane juice is the most authentic, and for the freshest taste, limes should be freshly squeezed rather than using lime juice. If sugar is used, it should be dissolved in lime juice. Some recipes advocate adding about a dozen mint leaves at this point in the process and “muddling” them, or stirring them with a pestle to dissolve the sugar. Also, instead of juicing the lime, Bacardi suggests using slices of half a lime in the juicing process.
Once you’ve mixed or muddled your ingredients, add rum and soda. The mix is about one part rum to three parts soda. The drink should be served on the rocks in a tall glass, and you can garnish the mojito with mint, lime, or both if you like. Drink historians claim that early mojitos were prized for their refreshing quality, and it is true that mint and lime together mask the taste of rum to some extent and are refreshing on the palate. Some people, however, don’t care about the taste and refer to the drink as similar in taste to mouthwash.
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