Tamarind-Pineapple Margarita

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 04/30/21
Tamarind-Pineapple Margarita
Gentl and Hyers / The Image Bank / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Add the fascinating flavor of tamarind to your pineapple margarita this summer. The tamarind-pineapple margarita is a brilliantly flavored beverage that is both familiar and unique, offering a taste adventure for anyone who loves to explore the fascinating world of tequila cocktails.

This recipe adds the fruity taste of a pineapple juice to the tamarind margarita. The combination creates a frozen drink with a flavor that's a little dark, a little light, and very tropical. You can blend it or shake it, and the cinnamon sugar rim gives it a spicy-sweet twist that adds to the fun.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Rim a cocktail or margarita glass with cinnamon sugar: Wet the rim with a piece of lime, then roll the rim in a small dish of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar.

  3. In a blender, add the tequila, tamarind nectar, pineapple and lime juices, and ice.

  4. Blend until smooth.

  5. Pour the drink into the prepared glass.

  6. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Choose a good tequila to back up the tamarind and pineapple. It doesn't have to be your best tequila, but something in the middle. While a blanco tequila is a great option, reposados tend to add an extra dimension that is quite nice.
  • For the tamarind nectar, Jumex is probably the most popular brand and you can often find it in the soda or juice aisle of many grocers.
  • While fresh pineapple juice is preferred, you can easily get away with canned juice for this recipe, which makes it a little easier.
  • The splash of lime juice brings all the flavors together and completes the drink. All you need to do is squeeze the juice from a lime wedge into the blender.
  • To make the cinnamon sugar, mix 3 parts sugar to 1 part ground cinnamon until you get a uniform brown color. Adjust the ratio to taste.

Recipe Variations

  • Chili powder or Tajin Seasoning are other great options for the rim. Either pair really well with tamarind and are very interesting with pineapple.
  • Skip the blender and shake this margarita instead. Simply pour all the liquids into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake well, and strain into the glass.

How Strong Is a Tamarind-Pineapple Margarita?

Frozen cocktails tend to be low-proof drinks and this margarita is no exception. Its alcohol content will fall somewhere around 9 percent ABV (18 proof), placing it right between beer and wine. If you choose to shake it, you'll have a stronger drink of 14 percent ABV (28 proof), which is still nearly half that of the original margarita.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
194 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 194
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 14mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 28mg 141%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 94mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)