The cocktail drink called mojito comes from Cuba but the exact origins both of the mix and the name are still subjects of numerous debate. There is no debate, however, about the mojito being favored by author Ernest Hemingway.
The mojito has five basic ingredients: rum, mint leaves, sugar, lime (and its juice), and soda water. And ice, of course, so you can enjoy it really, really cold. Mojito, after all, is meant to be a summer drink — something to counter the blistering tropical heat.
Unlike most cocktail drinks that merely require mixing, stirring or shaking, the secret to a good mojito is in the muddling which means slowly bruising (not mashing to a pulp) the lime, mint leaves and sugar at the bottom of a glass so that essential oils are released. There is a tool called “muddler” for this job but any elongated object made from a non-reactive material is just as good. Speedy used the end of the handle of our wood meat mallet and did a pretty good job.
To make a glass of mojito, you need:
about a quarter of large lime (or half of a medium-sized one)
a small bunch of fresh mint leaves
rum
2 to 3 tsps. of sugar
soda water
ice cubes
Place the lime, mint leaves and sugar in a glass. Muddle them together in a slow but firm circular motion.
Speedy says that the proportion is three parts lime juice to four parts rum. If you don’t get enough juice from your fresh lime, pour in some bottled lime juice (available as a cocktail mixer), then add the necessary amount of rum. Add some ice then pour in enough soda water to fill the glass. And that’s it! Enjoy your cold, cold mojito.
Hmmm… this will go well with the mushroom with pesto.
Riiiight you are!
miz connie, where do i find mint leaves?
In the supermarket.
hi, ms. connie. i was able to try mojito when we went boracay last february with my friends. they loved it and so i want to learn the perfect way to prepare it. i’m not so familiar with the brand of rum and soda water (in fact, hindi ko po kilala yung soda water). where can i find this? ang paggawa po ba nito ay per serving only?
We use Bacardi rum. Soda water is available in supermarkets. And, yes, mojito is prepared by the glass.
Very nice article maam! Mojito is one of my fave fixies. You have to try the local white rum (anejo I think?)… gives a distinct tangy flavour to Hemingway’s drink. =)