How to learn to drink tequila with salt and lime correctly? (12 photos)

Tequila is a world-famous strong alcoholic drink that is obtained from the fermented juice of blue (tequila) agave through distillation. This intoxicating elixir is made in Mexico, which is why it is often called “Mexican vodka.” Its production is organized in only five states: Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Nayarit, as well as Guanajuato and Michocan. The standards, rules and conditions for the production of this drink are regulated by a special Tequila Production Supervision Council.





Even those who have never tried it probably know how to drink tequila. Such awareness has developed thanks to cinema and television, where this drink is often mentioned and its use is demonstrated. The classic version is to drink tequila with salt and lime, but there are many other ways. It is noteworthy that Mexico has exclusive rights to use the name “Tequila”, as indicated in the corresponding “Declaration of Protection of the Name “Tequila””.

How to drink tequila correctly?

This drink has a rich, centuries-old history, and the rules and features of its use have changed over time. In addition, different countries in which it gained popularity contributed something of their own to the drinking culture. We'll look at a few popular ways to drink tequila.

Before and after meals

It is impossible to say for sure how to drink tequila correctly: before or after a meal. It can be consumed before meals as an aperitif, or after a meal as a digestif. But they don’t drink this drink during meals. It is also more often washed down than eaten, but this point is not important.

It should be noted that the ways of drinking tequila in the homeland of this drink and in European countries are significantly different. In Mexico, it is most often drunk without anything and before meals. It is believed that this is the only way to fully experience the taste and unique aroma of the drink.

However, in some regions of the country, “Mexican vodka” is combined with a sour-spicy non-alcoholic drink called sangrita, which can literally be translated as “blood”. There are several ways to prepare and consume it, but we’ll talk more about this a little later.



Mexican way

Real Mexicans never drink their traditional national drink in one gulp, as Europeans often do. They like to savor it without rushing. This is how the classic drinking culture appeared with its own rules and nuances. Here are the main points on how to drink tequila correctly:

First you need to purchase a real, high-quality product made from 100% agave. In terms of aging, at least reposado (aged in barrels for up to one year).

If available, use a tall and narrow glass - it is from such containers that this drink is traditionally drunk in its homeland.

After the first small sip, take a break and enjoy the aroma, taste and aftertaste.

Ideally, the drink should be topped with a slice of lime. It is advisable to take not the dark green fruit that we usually see on supermarket shelves, but a small light green one, which is much more difficult to find, but it’s worth it. This fruit is somewhat juicier, sweeter and softer than its large dark relative.

The lime needs to be cut into small slices. After a couple of sips of alcohol, take one slice, dip it in fine salt and chew a little to squeeze out the juice. They usually don’t eat the whole piece, but put it aside, and after a few sips they take the next one.

With cinnamon and orange

The fashion for drinking tequila in this way was introduced by Europeans, and, surprisingly, it quickly caught on. The method was invented in Germany, but has become widespread:

Cut a ripe medium-sized orange into rings or half rings.

Mix a small amount of sugar and cinnamon on a saucer.

Pour alcohol into the shot glass.

Now take a slice of orange and dip it thoroughly in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

The hot drink should be drunk in one gulp, and then snack on a prepared slice of citrus.





Salt and lime

The most common method, known to everyone as “lick-drop-bite”. Many people have probably wondered why they drink tequila with salt. The answer is simple: the drink has a pronounced sweetish taste, which is possessed by the main component - agave juice. Salt perfectly neutralizes the sweetness of alcohol, fully revealing and emphasizing its taste. The process looks something like this:

A strong drink is poured into a glass.

The lime is cut into quarters or wedges.

A few drops of lime juice are placed on the back of the hand, between the thumb and forefinger, and sprinkle the area with salt.

Take a piece of lime in the hand with salt, and a glass of strong drink in the other.

They lick off the salt, then immediately drink the alcohol in one gulp, and snack on the whole thing with lime pulp.

Tequila with lime and salt has its own rather interesting history. According to legend, this tradition originated in the nineteenth century, when a flu epidemic was raging in the country, and doctors advised patients to take this “medicine.” It was assumed that such an unusual combination of products would increase the body’s resistance to the virus. There is no direct evidence or refutation of this, but if the legend is true, then it turns out that doctors figured out how to drink tequila with salt and citrus fruits.

Tequila with beer

Let’s immediately say that this combination of alcoholic drinks is very dangerous for health, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, this cocktail, called the “Mexican ruff”, will lead to a severe hangover, and secondly, the whole complex of aldehydes contained in it and the admixture of methyl alcohol can seriously harm the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

The recipe for the “Mexican ruff” is as follows: pour 35 milliliters of tequila into a glass, and then add 350 milliliters of the foamy drink. The cocktail is drunk in one gulp, and the effect of drinking it occurs almost immediately - your head is spinning, and your body literally stops listening. In some countries, this alcoholic mixture was nicknamed “fog” for its intoxicating properties and severe hangover.

With sangrita

The main purpose of sangrita is to complement the taste of tequila, as well as to cleanse the tongue and palate between sips of alcohol. The classic method of preparing this non-alcoholic drink is quite simple. You will need:

30 milliliters orange juice;

the same amount of lime juice;

pomegranate juice – 15-20 milliliters, no more;

jalapeno pepper – a couple of thin slices;

as well as a quarter teaspoon of hot ground pepper (can be replaced with the same amount of Tabasco sauce).

The “tomato” recipe is also quite popular:

orange and tomato juice are taken in a ratio of one to two;

add the juice of half a lime;

then add some crushed green chilies to the cocktail. You can adjust the sharpness yourself.

In Mexico City, this drink is prepared in a special way:

freshly squeezed lime juice is mixed with tomato juice in a ratio of 2 to 5;

one part of fresh orange juice is added to them;

Separately, a mixture is made from equal parts of Tabasco, salsa, Jugo Maggi sauces, and Worcestershire sauce. The amount of this mixture is added to taste.



Tequila with chili

It is worth noting that in European countries this method of drinking the drink has not become popular. This particular culinary duo combines two traditional, purely Mexican products: tequila itself and the spicy jalapeno chili pepper. Suitable for thrill seekers. The order is as follows: first, a piece of pepper or a whole small pod is eaten, then a shot of tequila is knocked down in one gulp, and for an even more “fiery” sensation, you can add pepper seeds to the drink.

With moonshine

You will hardly get pleasure from such a mix; it will most likely be a “deadly number”. But in some countries, craftsmen have learned to prepare an imitation of the Mexican drink using moonshine. Aloe is used to impart a characteristic herbaceous taste. The production technology looks like this:

50 grams of crushed aloe leaves are poured with a liter of double distillation moonshine with sugar and aloe juice.

Then the container is hermetically sealed and placed in a secluded dark place for about two weeks.

After this time, the drink is filtered and it is ready for drinking.

An inexperienced person is unlikely to distinguish such an imitation from the original by taste, color or any other characteristics.

Mexican flag

In the original, the name sounds like “La Bandera” and in translation simply means “flag”; the clarification of the country - “Bandera de Mxico” began to be added in other countries where this cocktail took root. Served in three tall glasses, the contents of each of which correspond to the color of the stripe of the Mexican flag:

Green – a glass with lime juice.

White – directly, tequila itself.

And the red one is the previously mentioned sangrita.

Shots are drunk in the same order, one after another. At home, “Bandera de Mxico” is considered a classic and looks quite touching and patriotic.

Rapido

This cocktail is highly revered among club youth, and even received the flattering nickname “king of cool parties.” It is prepared from just two ingredients: Silver and Sprite tequila in a ratio of one to two. It is this composition that is used in the ritual known as “Tequila Boom”, when the shot glass is covered with the palm of your hand, it is knocked three times firmly but gently on the table or bar counter with a shout of “Boom-boom-boom!”, and then the hissing and bubbling drink is knocked back in one gulp. cocktail.

With caramel

If you are asked what you drink tequila with, you are unlikely to remember caramel offhand. However, this unusual method is also very popular, especially among the fair sex. Girls like the combination of alcohol with something sweet, not salty; in addition, the drink becomes softer, pleasant to drink, alcohol bitterness is minimized, but at the same time the original taste is preserved. Served, as a rule, in a Margarita glass, at the rate of one dessert spoon of caramel syrup per glass of strong drink.

Wolf

This is not a cocktail or an original presentation at all, but a very peculiar, theatrical way of drinking alcohol. Six stacks are placed in a row on the bar counter. Each of them contains approximately thirty to fifty grams of “Mexican vodka”. After each shot, the drinker must howl, imitating the howl of a wolf.



What do you eat with tequila?

And so, we figured out what people drink tequila with, now let's take a closer look at what this drink is eaten with in its homeland and in other countries. When you first get acquainted with this exotic liquid, you can be confused about what foods or dishes you should choose so that they are appropriate, go well with the drink and do not distort its taste.

You also need to consider how much alcohol you are going to drink. If you limit yourself to a couple of glasses, then you can do without a snack at all or cut up some fruit. And don’t forget about sangrita, which you can use to wash down your tequila. But if you are gathered with a group and you are planning long gatherings with copious amounts of alcohol, then take care of a full-fledged hot snack.

Taco

This is one of the traditional dishes of Mexican cuisine. Served in a wheat or corn tortilla, the filling can be very different: meat, fish, seafood, sausages, beans, vegetables, and even cactus pulp prepared in a special way. Cheese, garlic, salsa sauce, cilantro, and guacamole can also be added to the filling. Silver tequila is more suitable for fish tacos or stuffed with seafood. But for “Reposado” it is preferable to choose a meat dish, preferably with pork or beef, but poultry is also quite suitable.

Raw fish

It sounds quite strange, but raw fish actually goes perfectly with some types of tequila. Its pieces are used to prepare ceviche, a Peruvian dish that, in addition to raw fish, also includes chili peppers, onions and cilantro. If such an appetizer does not inspire confidence in you, then you can prepare or order more familiar sushi and rolls.

Fried seafood such as squid or shrimp

Such dishes are good on their own, and almost ideal as a snack, especially with the “Silver” variety. In addition to shrimp and squid, mussels, scallops, octopus and some crustaceans are also suitable. They can be fried in a frying pan with oil and seasonings, stewed with vegetables in a spicy sauce, or boiled in boiling water, and then fried in batter in a frying pan. Fans of oriental cuisine will appreciate seafood cooked in soy sauce; if you use this dish as an appetizer with tequila, you will get, so to speak, a meeting of two cultures.

Vegetables

Different types of drink will go well with different vegetables.

For example, avocado is ideal for “Reposado”, which can be cut into thin slices, flavored with lime or lemon juice and add a little salt. You can also make a pate from it and spread it on small toasted croutons.

For Blanco, an excellent appetizer would be boiled asparagus with lemon juice and hot pepper or baked in the oven with cheese.

Guacamole, a traditional cold appetizer made from avocado puree with the addition of lime juice, tomatoes, cilantro and seasonings, is suitable for almost any variety of “Mexican vodka.”



Lime and orange

We have already told you how to snack on tequila with citrus fruits, but let us clarify a little. The best snack to accompany a glass of this drink is considered to be a small light green lime, which has a softer and sweeter taste. A regular dark large lime will work too. Lemon or orange would also be a good snack. Grapefruit is consumed with drinks much less often; other citrus fruits, as a rule, are not used or are added to cocktails.

Pork

This meat can be either an ingredient in some dish, for example, part of a taco, or consumed as an independent snack. It is best to grill pork so that it has a characteristic “smoky” flavor and excess fat is rendered out during the cooking process. It is better to serve this meat with “Reposado” with a side dish of corn.

Steak

Steak is, in principle, a good appetizer for any strong alcoholic drink. Choose the degree of doneness according to your taste, but it is better to choose from “medium” and above. It's the perfect filling snack to serve with a side dish or as part of a burger. Best paired with Reposado and Anejo.

Chocolate

As in the case of caramel, this type of snack is preferred by ladies. Men choose chocolate much less often, but they also don’t shy away from it. The thing is that chocolate perfectly reveals and emphasizes the aroma and sweetish taste of the drink. “Anejo” goes well with dark chocolate, and “Reposado” goes well with both dark and milk chocolate. By the way, a bar of high-quality chocolate goes well with any strong, aged drink.

What should you not eat with a drink?

Too heavy and rich dishes can hide or distort the taste of the legendary Mexican drink. There are also a number of foods and dishes that, in principle, do not go well with strong alcohol.

Cream pies and cakes. Flour sweets are heavy on their own, and if consumed together with a high-proof drink, they will become competitors in the processing queue, which can cause a serious blow to the pancreas. First of all, the body will try to break down fatty, sweet foods, and alcohols will be postponed for later. As a result, there will be a release of insulin and rapid intoxication, and in the morning you will have a severe hangover.

Grapes, watermelon and melon. For any strong drink, and tequila in particular, this is the worst fruit snack. They will provoke fermentation in the intestines, and melon will give an “explosive” effect.

Pickled vegetables. They, unlike salted ones, which maintain the water-salt balance, will put unnecessary strain on the liver and kidneys.



How to drink tequila

We’ve sorted out the appetizer a little, now let’s see what’s best to wash down with “Mexican vodka.” If you don’t have the time or desire to bother with sangrita, then you can find simpler options that, however, will not spoil the taste of tequila.

Various juices

A variety of fruit and vegetable juices will work. It is better to give preference to freshly prepared rather than packaged ones. Ideal options would be apple, tomato and orange. Some gourmets also recommend drinking “Silver” with fresh citrus fruits, and “Gold” with fresh apple juice.

Coca Cola

When strong alcohol is combined with carbonated drinks, intoxication occurs much faster, so you definitely shouldn’t drink them in large quantities. These cocktails are easy to prepare at home to delight your guests. The proportions are as follows: fifty milliliters of tequila, three times as much Coca-Cola, half a lime and ice - approximately 150 grams.

Guilt

Drinking tequila with wine is a very bad idea! Like any other high-proof alcohol, it is incompatible with any low-proof drinks. You should wash it down with juice or a soft drink, and after that, if you are going to continue drinking alcohol, choose a similar strength.



A couple of nuances

Questions related to the rules for serving and decorating a drink are considered by many to be unimportant, however, they are important, and these nuances also need to be given attention. The rule “meet you by your clothes” applies here, so a lot depends on how tequila is served, especially when you first get acquainted with this agave elixir.

Warm or cold

The answer here is clear - this drink is consumed only cold, but not warm or heated. "Blanco" is usually served chilled to ten degrees. "Reposado" is served at room temperature, and "Silver" is not specifically chilled, but is poured forward into chilled shot glasses.

Glasses for serving

Traditionally, special tall and narrow glasses with a thick bottom are used for this drink, which in Mexico are called “horses”. The edge of the container is slightly moistened with lime juice and sprinkled with salt. Sometimes, instead of a glass, chilled halves of a lemon are used, from which the pulp has previously been removed. If tequila is served not as an independent drink, but as part of a cocktail, the glass is selected depending on what kind of cocktail was prepared.

Popular cocktails with tequila

It’s easy to prepare such drinks yourself at home, just study the composition first so that you have all the ingredients. Not everyone likes strong agave alcohol, but in combination with other drinks it will sparkle with new colors. The mixes always turn out bright and interesting, which is why they have gained popularity in youth gatherings.

Margarita

Let's start with perhaps the most famous tequila cocktail, which has already become a classic. It has gained popularity in many countries on all continents. Moreover, this drink even has its own day - February 22 is considered to be Margarita day. The traditional recipe includes:

half a glass of “Mexican vodka”;

a tablespoon of orange liqueur;

freshly squeezed juice of one lime;

a teaspoon of sugar syrup;

a few ice cubes.

The cooking process includes the following steps:

First, a rim is created on the glass: the edge is moistened with lime juice and dipped in salt.

Then all the above ingredients are mixed and shaken.

The cocktail is carefully poured into a glass so as not to touch the rim and garnished with a lime ring.



Tequila Sunrise

The name of this cocktail translates as “dawn” and the drink really resembles the rays of the rising sun. It includes:

half a glass of tequila;

half a glass of orange juice;

and a spoonful of pomegranate syrup.

Prepare like this:

Ice cubes are poured into a tall glass.

Syrup is poured to the bottom, then alcohol, and then juice and mixed quite a bit until a beautiful gradient occurs.

An orange ring and a cocktail cherry are used as decoration.

Fairy

A rich drink of a pleasant turquoise color, which includes:

fifteen milliliters each of tequila, white rum, absinthe and vodka;

ten milliliters each of melon liqueur and Blue Curacao blue liqueur;

one hundred milliliters of energy drink;

half a lemon;

and ice.

It is prepared like this:

Pour ice cubes into a glass and pour in all the above strong ingredients.

Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon.

Stir everything with a spoon

Then they fill it with energy drink.

Decorate the composition with lemon zest.



Acapulco

One of the most popular cocktails in bars of all popular tourist cities in Mexico. The composition is as follows:

thirty milliliters of tequila;

ten milliliters of dark rum and whiskey;

one hundred milliliters of pineapple juice;

forty milliliters of grapefruit juice.

Cooking process:

Ice cubes are placed in a tall glass.

All ingredients are thoroughly mixed and poured into a container.

Decorate everything with a piece of pineapple.

Despertador

The name translates as “desperate” and this drink is a rather explosive mixture of:

thirty milliliters “Silver”;

ten milliliters of orange liqueur;

twenty milliliters of Grenadine;

one hundred milliliters of grapefruit juice;

spoons of liquid honey;

lemon and mint.

Prepare as follows:

Add all liquid ingredients to a shaker and shake well.

Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the mix into it.

Mint, cocktail cherries and citrus zest are used as decoration.

Sombrero

This fiery classic includes only three components:

thirty milliliters of tequila;

the same amount of vodka;

sixty milliliters of coffee liqueur.

It is prepared like this:

Mix all ingredients.

Add ice cubes and shake.

Pour into a chilled glass.

Usually served without decoration.

Theodore

This drink is sometimes called the predecessor and progenitor of the famous “Margarita”. It includes:

sixty milliliters of tequila;

thirty milliliters of apricot brandy liqueur;

thirty milliliters each of agave syrup and lime juice.

Prepared in three steps:

All ingredients are mixed in a shaker with ice added;

Strain the mixture into a chilled glass.

Decorate everything with a slice of lime.



How to drink and what to eat Olmeca chocolate tequila?

Despite its strength, this drink is drunk quite easily and smoothly, leaving a long, pleasant aftertaste with notes of fruit, nuts and cocoa. It can be consumed both in pure form and as part of cocktails, but it should be cooled before doing so. If you prefer pure alcohol, then Olmeca is drunk in one gulp. Fruits are suitable as a snack; it is better to take citrus fruits.

Theatrical effects

If you want to somehow diversify the process of drinking alcohol, then you need to add theatrical effects. These are present in the “tequila boom”, when the drinker knocks the shot glass on the table, shouting “Boom-boom-boom!”, as well as in the “wolf shot”, where you need to howl, imitating a wolf, after each shot.

What else is useful to know about the drink?

The men who harvest blue agave are called "Jimadors".

An unopened bottle can be stored for years, but if you open it, then you should consume the drink in no more than a month and a half. Otherwise, it will oxidize and begin to evaporate, and the taste will be hopelessly spoiled.

Real tequila contains at least 50% blue agave juice. This indicator is regulated by a special law.

Every year, on July 24th, Mexico celebrates National Tequila Day.

A Brief History of Tequila

The history of this drink goes back to ancient times and is inextricably linked with the history of the entire country. Its name literally translates from the Aztec language as “the place where the agave grows.” Initially, it was low-alcohol, but with the arrival of the Spaniards on the continent, the drink began its journey to the form that everyone knows it now.

In the mid-sixteenth century, a village of the same name was founded, now the city of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. It was here that large-scale production of agave alcohol began, which they tried to make stronger and richer. But it became an export product only two hundred years later. Tequila gradually conquered first the American and then European markets. Nowadays there is a whole set of laws regulating production and ensuring the protection of national property.



Benefits and harms

As with any other strong alcohol, tequila should not be consumed in excess. But this drink has a number of useful properties:

It retains all the benefits of agave, which is widely used in medicine and cooking.

If you consume no more than 50-100 milliliters per day, the drink has a beneficial effect on the immune system.

Has good antiseptic properties.

In small quantities it stimulates the entire gastrointestinal tract.

As for the harm, it is most often associated with the abuse of “Mexican vodka”. If you drink it often and in large quantities, then this approach will inevitably develop into alcoholism, and can also provoke diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, contribute to the development of diabetes, pancreatitis and cause allergic reactions.

Taste characteristics and strength of the drink

Classic tequila has a strength of around fifty degrees. Before bottling, it is diluted a little with water, reducing the strength to forty, sometimes 38 degrees. In a young drink, only a light taste and aroma of agave is felt, but the longer it ages, the richer and brighter it becomes.

Types of alcoholic drink

Based on the percentage of agave juice, “Mexican vodka” is divided into two categories: premium (100% agave) and Mixto, where the percentage of blue agave juice is not less than 51%. According to the degree of aging, drinks are divided into:

"Blanco" - aging no more than a couple of months. The drink is light, almost transparent.

“Gold” is a young tequila aged for up to six months. Caramel and flavorings are added to its composition to make it look like aged wine.

“Reposado” – aged for up to a year. It has a pleasant golden color and is a best-selling product.

“Anejo” – aged from one to three years.

“Extra Аnejo” – aged for more than three years. The drink takes on a noble dark shade, and also becomes richer and stronger.

How to choose quality tequila?

In this case, the main thing is not to stumble upon a fake. The quality of the drink is a fundamentally important point that needs to be given special attention. Take a closer look at the label, it should have the following inscription “100% puro de agave”, or simply “agave”. If you don’t find anything like that there, then it’s better to refrain from purchasing, because the bottle contains a significant (up to 50%) amount of cheap corn alcohol. The label must also bear the CRT (Council for Supervision of the Tequila Production Process) and NOM (State Quality Standard of Mexico) icons.

How to avoid a hangover?

This drink can cause a serious hangover, which will be much worse than after drinking other alcohol of the same strength. However, much depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, as well as on the body’s individual ability to cope with the effects of alcohol. To avoid unpleasant symptoms, follow a few simple rules:

Do not overuse tequila or any of its varieties.

Do not mix with other alcoholic beverages.

Choose your snack wisely.

Don't go overboard on cocktails. Even low-alcohol drinks in large quantities will lead to unpleasant consequences.