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Mojito
Mojito: white rum, lime and sugar bruised with hierbabuena, topped with soda over ice, Havana's afternoon cooler
In Old Havana the mojito is the answer to three o'clock heat: made at bar counters along Obispo Street, on the Malecón and at home on the patio, often with a plate of tostones or chicharritas on the side. It is a drink for adults only, though its cool, fresh taste can fool you; sip it slowly and drink responsibly. A real Cuban mojito is fragrant and grassy from hierbabuena, the mild local mint, sharp with lime, gently sweet and lightly sparkling, with the rum giving it backbone rather than burn. The common mistake is shredding the mint with heavy muddling: the leaves turn black, bitter and stick in your teeth. Press the leaves softly against the sugar and lime just until you can smell them strongly, then stop. It is ready when the sugar has dissolved, the glass is fully frosted and the mint leaves are scattered bright green through the ice. Outside Cuba, use spearmint; peppermint tastes like toothpaste here. Chef's tip: slap the garnish sprig between your palms before tucking it in beside the straw; every sip then comes with the smell of fresh mint.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 1
Ingredients
For the mojito
- 8 sprigs hierbabuena or spearmintleaves picked, about 12 leaves
- 2 tsp white sugar
- 1 ½ tbsp lime juicefreshly squeezed
- 3 ½ tbsp white rumlight, Cuban style
- 8 ice cubeslightly cracked
- ¼ cup soda waterchilled
To serve
- 1 mint sprig (optional)
For the alcohol-free version
- 8 sprigs hierbabuena or spearmint (optional)
- 2 tsp white sugar (optional)
- 1 ½ tbsp lime juice (optional)
- 8 ice cubes (optional)
- ¾ cup soda water (optional)chilled; or ginger ale for a sweeter drink
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 2 tsp white sugar and 1 ½ tbsp lime juice in a tall glass and stir until the sugar has mostly dissolved.
1 minStep 2: Add 8 sprigs hierbabuena or spearmint and press it gently 3–4 times with a muddler, just until the leaves bruise and smell strongly of mint. Do not tear them.
1 minStep 3: Pour in 3 ½ tbsp white rum, fill the glass with 8 ice cubes and stir from the bottom to lift the mint through the ice.
1 minStep 4: Top with ¼ cup soda water, stir once, tuck in 1 mint sprig and serve with a straw.
1 minStep 5: Alcohol-free version: stir 2 tsp white sugar into 1 ½ tbsp lime juice in a tall glass, add 8 sprigs hierbabuena or spearmint and press gently until fragrant.
1 minStep 6: Alcohol-free version: fill with 8 ice cubes, top with ¾ cup soda water and lift once with a spoon before serving.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mojito take?
- About 5 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of white sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lime juice?
- Lemon juice, same amount.
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Spanish