Sangrita facts for kids

Sangrita is a special non-alcoholic drink from Mexico. Its name means "little blood" because of its bright red color. People often drink Sangrita with a shot of tequila, especially a clear type called Tequila Blanco. This tradition started way back in the 1920s.

Sangrita is made to go perfectly with the taste of 100% agave tequila. Agave is a plant used to make tequila. Both Sangrita and tequila can have a spicy, peppery, and citrusy flavor. The spicy taste of Sangrita helps to make the tequila's fresh, sharp flavor stand out. It also helps to "clean" your mouth, making each sip of tequila taste new. Before the late 1990s, when tequila became popular worldwide, Sangrita was mostly known and enjoyed only in the Jalisco region of Mexico, where tequila is made.

The Story of Sangrita's Start

A popular story says that Sangrita first came from Guadalajara, a big city in Jalisco. It's believed to have started from the leftover juices of a popular local fruit salad. This salad was often covered with fine chili powder, usually from a type of pepper called piquin.

The fruit salad was known as pico de gallo by the people of Guadalajara, called jalisquillos. They would eat this salad from a large bowl, often at breakfast. After they finished the fruit, the juice left at the bottom was saved. This juice, mostly orange juice, was then poured into small, narrow clay cups. These clay cups were like the first versions of the tequila shot glass we see today.

Traditional Colors and Flavors

Most of the time, Sangrita got its bright red color from a mix of fine pepper powder, other spices, and pomegranate. The main liquid base was usually orange juice or sweetened lime juice.

The secret to a great Sangrita recipe comes from the fruit salad recipes themselves. These salads could include fruits like tangerine, cucumber, papaya, mango, and a root vegetable called jicama. These ingredients helped create a balanced and tasty drink.

How to Enjoy Sangrita

Traditionally, Sangrita is served with Tequila Blanco, which is a clear tequila. But you can also drink it with tequila reposado, which is a tequila that has been aged a bit.

The tequila and Sangrita are each poured into their own small glass. These glasses are often called caballitos. You sip a little of the tequila, then a little of the Sangrita, and then back to the tequila. You don't drink one right after the other quickly.

Sangrita is also part of a fun drink called "The Mexican Flag." For this, you use three separate double shot glasses. One glass is filled with lime juice, another with tequila, and the third with Sangrita. The colors of the drinks – green (lime), clear (tequila), and red (Sangrita) – look like the Mexican flag!

Sangrita Ingredients

The real Sangrita from the Lake Chapala area in Jalisco is made with special ingredients. It uses juices from Seville oranges (a type of sour orange), lime, and pomegranate. Then, chili powder or hot sauce is added to make it spicy.

However, many modern Sangrita recipes, especially outside of Jalisco, often use tomato juice to make the drink red. This is a common mistake, as the original red color came from chili powder, not tomato. Some people say there are no strict rules for Sangrita. But older people in Jalisco believe that using tomato or mixes like "Clamato" is not the traditional way. They think these ideas came from people trying to copy the drink as it became more popular.

Common Ingredients

Sangrita can have a mix of orange, lime, tomato, and/or pomegranate juices. Sometimes, pomegranate-based grenadine is used. It always has something spicy added, like hot sauce or fresh/dried Chili pepper. Sometimes, white onion and salt are also included.

A Traditional Recipe Idea

Here is a simple idea for a traditional Sangrita recipe:

• 1 ounce of fresh orange juice
• 3/4 to 1 ounce of fresh lime juice
• 1/2 ounce of real pomegranate-based grenadine
• 1/4 teaspoon of ancho chile powder or 3 dashes of hot sauce
• 1 to 2 slices of jalapeño pepper

A Non-Traditional Tomato Recipe

This recipe uses tomato juice and is not the traditional way:

• 2 parts fresh tomato juice
• 1 part fresh orange juice
• 1/2 part fresh lime juice
• Fresh minced green chile to taste

Mexico City Style Sangrita

This version is popular in Mexico City:

• 5 parts tomato juice
• 2 parts fresh lime juice
• 1 part orange juice
• Seasoned with a mix of Jugo Maggi, Salsa Valentina, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce to taste.