Picante — BITE

Author and Photographer: Emily Li

Picture a margarita and describe the taste that comes to mind: what would you say? A month ago, if you had asked me, I would have told you that a margarita should be saccharine, lemony, and have a subtle smoothness of tequila and Triple Sec. The ideal margarita should be smooth on the palate, but have a tangy aftertaste. Right?

Wrong! Last month before school started, I found myself at a bar with friends, ordering a picante: the best twist on a margarita I've ever had. What I had tasted was more than phenomenal; it was sweet, sour, and spicy all in one drink. The multitude of flavors captivated my senses, and just last week, when I found myself craving a picante, I tried to recreate it and share it with my friends. They thought it was delicious, so here I am, sharing my picante recipe with all of you.

Inherent in its name, picante means spicy in Spanish. The only ingredient that differentiates the drink from a classic margarita is the chili pepper used to give it a kick. I tried using jalapeños which didn't provide as much of spice as I would've preferred, so I would suggest using the small red chili peppers, known as pequin peppers (common in grocery stores) instead.

Ingredients:

- 1 chili pepper (with the seed)

- 1 ounce of tequila

- 1/4 of an ounce of simple syrup (agave and honey also work)

- 1/2 of an ounce of lime juice

- half a can of grapefruit flavored sparkling water (I prefer Spindrift because it is more flavorful than La Croix)

1. First, thoroughly muddle the chili pepper in the cocktail shaker (remember that the seed is what gives the margarita the tangy aftertaste, so make sure it is incorporated properly).

2. Add the tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice. Shake first without ice so that all the ingredients are mixed properly.

3. Then, shake with ice to make the drink pleasantly cold and refreshing.

4. Strain into a Collins glass and serve with ice.

5. Add the can of sparkling water to dilute the margarita mixture appropriately, but make sure that it doesn't take away too much flavor .

Enjoy with fajitas, quesadillas, chips and salsa, or anything else you desire.

Drink and Enjoy!