🌶️ Tamarind Ginger Margarita

Tequila shaken with tamarind paste, fresh ginger, lime & Cointreau

Tequila (Blanco)
8 min
Shaken
Rocks Glass
~17%
Ingredients
  • 45ml (1½ oz) blanco tequila
  • 15ml (½ oz) Cointreau or triple sec
  • 45ml (1½ oz) tamarind concentrate (or paste)
  • 22ml (¾ oz) fresh lime juice
  • 15ml (½ oz) ginger syrup (see tips)
  • 1 tbsp coarse salt + ½ tsp ginger powder + pinch chilli — for rim
Method
  1. 1
    RimRun a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass. Dip in a mix of coarse salt, ginger powder, and chilli.
  2. 2
    ShakeCombine tequila, Cointreau, tamarind concentrate, lime juice, and ginger syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds.
  3. 3
    StrainStrain over a large ice cube in the prepared rocks glass.
  4. 4
    GarnishAdd a lime wheel and a sliver of crystallised ginger on the rim.

About This Cocktail

Tamarind is one of the great binding threads between Indian and Mexican cuisines — its sweet-sour tartness crosses cultures effortlessly. This cocktail gained popularity in Indian restaurants in the UK and US in the 2010s. Bobby Flay's Food Network triple margarita segment popularised the concept for mainstream audiences, but the real driver was the explosion of Indian-origin bartenders at craft cocktail bars in London and New York who pushed hyperlocal ingredients onto serious menus.

Variations

Frozen Tamarind MargaritaBlend with a cup of ice for the restaurant version — popular across Indian restaurants in summer
Mezcal TamarindReplace blanco tequila with mezcal — the smokiness with tamarind is extraordinary
Spiced RimReplace ginger-salt rim with chaat masala for a more Indian character on every sip
Bartender Tips

Make ginger syrup: simmer 1 cup water + 1 cup sugar + 50g sliced peeled ginger for 15 min, cool and strain. Keeps refrigerated for 2 weeks. Tamarind concentrate (not paste) works best here — the paste can be gritty. For a Spiced Tamarind Syrup, add star anise, black pepper, and a cinnamon stick to the ginger syrup simmer.

The Specs
Spirit Base
Tequila (Blanco)
Method
Shaken
Glass
Rocks Glass
ABV
~17%
Where to Find It
Restaurants
Indian fusion restaurants; popularised at Indian Accent (New Delhi & NYC), Dishoom (London), and Zesty South Indian Kitchen
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