Kiwi, Mandarin & Mint Mock Margarita

I was never a fruit lover, I guess because I was never a sweet eater and I really don’t like sour things. Getting a memorable strawberry or kiwi has been rare, but a perfectly sweet, juicy and crisp watermelon I have had more luck with. With that being said I have never been big on liquids either and really had to try hard to drink water. Knowing now that drinking large amounts of water is not healthy on the kidneys, or blood pressure when one is elderly, and how plain water just flushes the nutrients out of your body before it is done being used is just another complication. On the other hand the hydration and fruit make my skin look good. I solved these issues with my fruit waters and juices. This one I made today is another to add to my favorites!

I started this newest fruit water by peeling and slicing two kiwis and putting them in a 2 cup glass jar, added in sprigs of the strawberry mint that I am growing and filled the container with filtered water. I covered the jar and let it sit for a couple of days.

When two days are up give the kiwi and mint a muddling by pressing down lightly on the fruit and mint to release a little more of their flavors and nutrients. Strain this mixture through a sieve and into a cocktail shaker. Add 2 ounces of the juice from canned mandarins to the shaker and a handful of the mandarin sections as well.

On a plate mix together sugar and salt, maybe a 4 parts sugar to 1 part salt. In a bowl wide enough to dip the rim of your glass in put some of the mixture from the shaker in it. Once you dip the glass in it then dip the glass in the sugar salt mixture and pour the rimming juice back into the shaker. Add some crushed ice to your empty glass. I just take ice cubes and put them into a freezer baggie and crush it up with the flat side of a meat mallet. Put bigger ice cubes in the shaker, as to not dilute the mixture to much and shake it, shake it. shake it! Smile while you are doing this shaking because it intensifies the experience of this mock cocktail! This tastes so much like a margarita because of the tanginess of the kiwi, but pleasantly tangy and not sour from limes. I really didn’t tastes too much of the mint, but I am sure it’s mood brightening benefits added to the happy feeling of this drink. I’m not suggestion anything, but if a little high end white tequila accidentally fell into your glass then it is safe, at least Ray Peat said so!

“Small amounts of alcohol can have some good antioxidant effects, but beer, wine, and dark whiskey, etc., contain enough estrogen to be harmful.” -Ray Peat