Mai Tai facts for kids
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | shaved or crushed ice |
| Standard garnish | pineapple spear, mint leaves, and lime peel |
| Standard drinkware |
 |
| IBA specified ingredients  |
|
| Preparation | Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a double rocks glass or a highball glass. |
| Notes | The Martinique molasses rum used by Trader Vic was not an Agricole rum but a type of "rummy" from molasses. |
| Mai Tai recipe at International Bartenders Association |
|
The Mai Tai is a famous and tasty cocktail. It's made with rum, a sweet orange liqueur, orgeat syrup (which tastes like almonds), and fresh lime juice. This drink is a big part of Tiki culture, which is all about tropical island themes.
Contents
History of the Mai Tai
The story of the Mai Tai began in 1944. A man named Victor J. Bergeron, also known as Trader Vic, said he invented it. He owned a restaurant called Trader Vic's in Oakland, California, in the United States.
However, another famous restaurant owner, Donn Beach, claimed he made a similar drink first in 1933. Some people think Trader Vic's Mai Tai was inspired by Donn Beach's "Q.B. Cooler" cocktail.
Mai Tai's Popularity in Hawaii
The Mai Tai became very popular in Hawaii starting in 1953. Trader Vic created a special drink menu for hotels like the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The drink quickly became a favorite among tourists.
By 1959, it was called the "top tourist tantalizer." Later, people in Hawaii started adding pineapple juice, orange juice, and a bit of dark rum on top.
Meaning of the Name
The name "Mai Tai" comes from the Tahitian language. The word maitaʻi means "good" or "excellence." So, the name means it's a really good drink!
Mai Tai Recipe and Ingredients
Most modern Mai Tai recipes are based on Trader Vic's original 1944 version. They usually include rum, lime juice, orgeat syrup, and an orange liqueur like orange curaçao.
Variations in Mai Tai Recipes
For almost 30 years, Trader Vic kept his Mai Tai recipe a secret. This meant other restaurants had to guess how to make it. Because of this, you can find many different versions of the Mai Tai today.
Some variations might add ingredients like amaretto, falernum, bitters, grenadine, or different fruit juices like orange, pineapple, or grapefruit. Trader Vic himself used different kinds of rum from places like Jamaica and Martinique.
Mai Tai in Pop Culture
The Mai Tai was a super popular drink in the 1950s and 1960s. Many restaurants, especially those with a tiki theme, served them.
The drink also appeared in movies! It was famously shown in the 1961 Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii.
See also
In Spanish: Mai Tai (cóctel) para niños
