Imli, Mango Mirchi, Jamun: 5 Vodka Flavours That Are Suited To The Indian Palate
Defined by its appreciation for bold, vibrant and complex flavours, the Indian palate is unique and varied, making vodka the ideal canvas for concocting beverages infused with typical Indian flavours which resonate with desi taste buds.
By using a wide variety of fruit and spice flavours, a basic, neutral-tasting vodka can easily be customised to appeal to the Indian market, offering complex, spicy or tangy options.
Below are five vodka flavours that align with the Indian palate, incorporating ingredients like jamun, tamarind, and mango, which are already hugely popular in Indian cuisine.
Tamarind Vodka
Tamarind, or Imli, known for its utter sourness mixed with a nuanced and slightly sweet flavour, is a very common ingredient that is used in a bevy of Indian chutneys and curries.
Imli, when infused into vodka, brings in a tangy and tart depth of flavour, and makes Imli Vodka an ideal base for cocktails.
To craft a tamarind vodka sour, take 60 ml of tamarind vodka and mix it with 30 ml of fresh lime juice and 20 ml of simple syrup.
Shake the mixture well with ice until it's chilled and then strain it into a cocktail glass. Garnish the drink with a lime wedge or wheel or a robust tamarind pod.
A tamarind vodka sour works especially well when it's served alongside spicy Indian dishes like samosas or pakoras, as its tartness cuts through the rich flavour of the spiced dishes.
Jamun Vodka
Jamun or black plum gives off a sweet and slightly tangy taste on the palate, making it a great choice as a base for a vodka cocktail. Jamun vodka pairs excellently with soda or tonic water to give us a simple yet flavourful cocktail.
60 ml of jamun-flavoured vodka mixed with 30 ml fresh lemon juice and topped off with soda and ice will give you a simple yet delicious vodka drink.
Lastly, garnish your cocktail with a juicy jamun and a sprig of mint. Jamun vodka cocktails are very complementary towards snacks like bhel puri or aloo/paapdi chaat.
Mango Mirchi Vodka
Mango mirchi (chilli) vodka offers a sweet and spicy combination to one's palate that appeals directly to the Indian love for contrast in big and bold flavours. To make a tasty mango mirchi cocktail, combine 60ml of mango mirchi vodka with 30 ml of lime juice and 15 ml of honey syrup and shake the mixture in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Then, strain the chilled drink into a cocktail glass and add ice.
Garnish with a slice of fresh mango and a salted-chilli rim on the glass for that added heat. Mango mirchi vodka cocktails pair very well with grilled dishes or tandoori appetisers.
Coconut Vodka
Coconut is an integral and important flavour in South Indian cuisine. When added to vodka, it brings a smooth, creamy sweetness to drinks that's hard to emulate.
For a delicious coconut vodka cocktail, mix 60 ml of coconut-flavoured vodka with 90 ml of pineapple juice and a splash of lime juice. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, mix all the components together and then strain the drink into a cocktail glass and add some ice.
Garnish the cocktail with a pineapple wedge or some toasted coconut flakes.
This creamy, tropical-inspired drink pairs extremely well with coastal Indian seafood dishes or spicy curries.
Citron Vodka
Citron, or lemon-flavoured vodka, invariably brings in a zesty, citrusy brightness to any drink.
This flavour works particularly well to offset the rich, spicy elements of Indian cuisine.
To craft a citron vodka cooler, mix 60 ml of citron vodka with 30 ml of lemon juice and 15 ml of sugar syrup. Simply top the drink off with soda and add ice. Garnish the cocktail with a lemon slice or wheel.
Citron- flavoured drinks are perfect to cut through the richness of fried Indian snacks or heavier dishes such as thick tomato/cashew based curries.
Drink responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
