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Paloma Cocktail Recipe with a Provencal Twist

Posted by Kaycee Chapman on

Is there anything better than an enjoying a fruity cocktail in the summer sun? We’re honouring our love of grapefruit, olive oil, and the shared history between France and Mexico with a twist on the classic paloma with this fun cocktail recipe.

An Ode to Grapefruit

Grapefruits are a citrus hybrid fruit that originated in Barbados. They were an accidental result from the crossover of a sweet orange and pomelo from Asia. In fact, their nickname was the ‘forbidden fruit’ on the Caribbean island. Grapefruit trees can grow up to 30 feet tall, and a single tree may grow as many as 1,500 pounds of fruit. The fruits themselves range in flavour from sour to semi-sweet, making them a required taste for some

Grapefruit the 'forbidden fruit' - Pexel Image

(Grapefruit was known as the 'forbidden fruit')

However, they have a wealth of potential health benefits from helping to lower bad cholesterol to controlling blood sugar levels, and boosting your immune system. Grapefruits actually have more vitamin A than an orange, in addition to vitamin C, calcium, and iron. The high vitamin C content may also help maintain the youthful appearance your skin as it acts as a powerful antioxidant.

Energize with the grapefruit fragrance diffuser from Lothantique

(Energize with the grapefruit fragrance diffuser from Lothantique)

The unique properties of grapefruit can also be found in its scent profile. Unlike other citruses, grapefruits also have a more herbal or woody aspect giving them a depth of profile. The cirtrus smell of grapefruit can also help to provide energy and assist in waking you up, which is why it is becoming an increasingly more popular essential oil.

Salut to Olive Oil

Despite their savoury taste, olives are a stone fruit and not a vegetable. Olives were cultivated in Mediterranean regions roughly 6000 years ago after spreading from the Asia Minor peninsula. In fact, an olive tree may live up to 600 years themselves. The colour, texture and flavour of an olive varies depending on the time of harvest and how they are cured. Unlike other stone fruits like a peach or nectarine, olives straight from a tree are extremely bitter and inedible to most people.

Olives are a stone fruit and not a vegetable - Pexel Image

(Olives are a stone fruit and not a vegetable)

Olive oil can be extracted by crushing or pressing methods. The resulting oil has plenty of beneficial fatty acids, and extra virgin olive oil in particular is high in antioxidants. Olive oil is considered a healthy dietary fat and may help to lower your risk of heart disease. Olive oil is also a fantastic moisturizer, and can be great for dry skin. Rumour has it that olive oil was a favourite in Cleopatra’s own beauty regime.

In France, olives are only grown in the southern region of the country. Provence is known for producing some of the best olive oils in the world, and olive oil is a staple ingredient in the local cuisine. So it should come as no surprise that 80% of olive production in Provence goes towards olive oil as opposed to table olives. Picholine, niçoise, and lucque are all popular olive varieties found in the region.

Belle de Provence's Olive Oil collection is infused with olive leaf extract from Provence

(The Belle de Provence Olive Oil collection is infused with olive leaf extract from Provence)

Mexico & France: Experimenting with Flavours

Palomas are one of the most popular drinks in Mexico. The name potentially comes from the folk song ‘La Paloma’ composed in the 1860s. France shares a long history with Mexico dating all the way back to 1821. While diplomatic relations between the two countries hasn’t always been so sunny - Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war started by Napoleon III - today many Mexicans are proud of their French ancestry, and Paris remains one of the top destinations for Mexican travellers.

Sweet, sour, with a subtle Provence twist? Trust us on this one. Not unlike a perfumer, we love to experiment with our flavour palates. Inspired by trends in the bartending industry, we decided to put a savoury twist on the paloma by rimming our glass with a quality Provencal olive oil and salt to bring a touch of the Mediterranean to this tequila classic for summer.

Paloma Cocktail Recipe (Unsplash Image)

Paloma Recipe (with a Provencal twist)

  • 2 ounces of tequila
  • 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • ½ ounce lime juice
  • 2 ounces club soda
  • Teaspoon of simple syrup (optional: to taste)
  • Sea salt for rim
  • Provencal olive oil for rim

Dip the rim of your glass in some olive oil and then cover in sea salt. Combine tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour into your glass. Top off with club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit or lime wedge.

Enjoy! Let us know about your favourite cocktail in the comments below.

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