Chamomile Paloma
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Chamomile-infused tequila turns this Paloma into a whole new cocktail. It’s a super refreshing spring or summer treat made even better with Pamplemousse La Croix!
Wowzas! It is hot, hot, hot in the Bay Area. Of course, hot for me is 80-95. Anything above that is just unconscionable. But clearly we’re diving straight into summer which means it’s time for a fruity summer cocktail.
This recipe is fairly close to a classic paloma cocktail with 2 exceptions:
1. The tequila is infused with chamomile flowers.
2. We’re adding Pamplemousse La Croix 😎💥 (La Croix all day every day!)
I actually concocted this Paloma recipe about a month ago when I was on an all-things- grapefruit binge. I think it’s time to pull it out again because this 95 degree heat needs an antidote.
Reasons I love this cocktail:
The fizzy water and tequila combo is super refreshing.
It’s pretty darn easy to throw together and make multiple cocktails at a time. For friends… yup. Definitely for friends.
The flavor of the chamomile comes through really strongly.
You can decorate it with pretty flowers!
La-Croix-tails are clearly the best way to use fizzy water. Yes, I just made up a new cocktail term.
It’s actually really easy to up your cocktail game by infusing the alcohol with tea. All you have to do is combine the two and leave the mixture alone for a day or two. For this recipe I combined a cup of white tequila with 3 tbs of chamomile flowers and left it to sit for about 3 days. After 3 days it had a very distinct chamomile flavor and I was dreaming up more boozy chamomile treats.
I actually tasted the mixture after only about an hour or two and the tequila already had picked up a good amount of chamomile flavor. So if you have less time, don’t shy away from this recipe. As long as you have 2-3 hours to let the chamomile steep, you’ll get some of that flavor, it will just be less pronounced.
I used dried chamomile flowers from Oaktown Spice Shop instead of a chamomile tea for this recipe. You can also get dried chamomile on Amazon. Or you could use a chamomile tea instead but your tea will likely have other flavors in it and will change the taste slightly.
Side note: If you live in the Bay Area, Oaktown Spice Shop is right on the lake in Oakland and is an amazing treasure-trove of bulk spices, herbs and salts. I highly recommend it if you want to explore unusual flavors.
Chamomile-Infused Tequila
Makes 1 cup of infused-tequila. Enough for 4 cocktails.
Chamomile Paloma
Makes 1 cocktail.
Lovely little things:
Side note — I got engaged! (Side note?) See my instagram for more details if you’re curious.
I just finished reading Burnt Toast Makes You Sing Good by Kathleen Flinn. It’s a family history/memoir with recipes scattered throughout. I loved getting to meet all the people and meals that shaped this writer and now chef. Plus it made me cry at the end. I highly recommend it.
Currently reading:
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
