Kokum And Coconut Water: Summer’s Coolest Cocktail And Mocktail Duo
Come summer, two ingredients which are brought together by mixologists for blending drinks are kokum and coconut water. Both of these are tropical staples, found along sea shores. While kokum is a staple ingredient hailing from the Konkan coast situated in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, coconut trees are generally cultivated in most areas which are close to the sea.
The soft, white flesh of coconut is used to make numerous culinary dishes and coconut cream and milk are used to prepare multiple cocktail and mocktail blends along with their use in curries and desserts. Another ingredient which is commonly used for blending drinks during summers is tender coconut water which carries a sweet and simultaneously nutty and earthy flavour.
Kokum for its part, is also used to make a number of different sherbets and coolers even as it acts as a souring agent in different culinary preparations such as gravies, curries and vegetables. And kokum and coconut water are often brought together in summertime drinks in a well-made coupling of sour and sweet flavours that work exceedingly well when added to different seasonal cocktails and mocktails.
Read on below to know more about some of the reasons why kokum and coconut water are often brought together for blending summertime cocktails and mocktails:
Tropical Notes
One of the more significant reasons behind using kokum and tender coconut water or even the coconut water extracted from ripened coconuts in making cocktail and mocktail blends is their tropical character. Both ingredients can be found aplenty along tropical coasts and are thus excellent flavour additions to blends prepared at tiki-themed or island-themed gatherings. These tropical notes carrying a seasonal touch make the kokum and coconut water duo a sought after pairing at summertime gatherings.
Contrasting Flavours
And what becomes the trump card in bringing this pairing together is inevitably the flavours this pairing produces. Kokum has an acidic and tangy quality which is directly transferred into the unsweetened syrup that is prepared using dried kokum petals. Coconut water has a sweet, nutty and creamy note that blends really well with the contrasting flavours of kokum to produce a harmonious and well-balanced mix of opposite flavours. So, this duo is often brought together in the creation of sherbets, coolers and spritzers prepared especially for summer weather.
Versatile Mixers
Yet another reason coconut water and kokum are added to a number of different cocktails is because they are both very versatile mixers and together, act as a good base for blending with different spirits. For instance, the clear flavours of vodka added to kokum and coconut water spritzers give more room for their tropical notes to shine whereas when dark rum is added to this duo, it lends the pairing its own distinct caramelised touch which builds more flavour into the cocktail blend. As such, coconut water and kokum become a very interesting foundation for building tropical cocktails.
Bright Colours
Where coconut water and kokum shine the most however is in their presentation. Clear and clean coconut water mixes with the bright red, purple and maroon hues of kokum syrup or kokum extract to become a blend complete with a deeply coloured flavour profile. Such a cocktail or mocktail blend adds a pop of colour to any summertime gathering, making this duo a sought after combination for crafting colourful seasonal blends served at island-themed parties.
Light Textures
Along with taste and presentation, one of the other elements of any cocktail or mocktail blend is texture. Both coconut water and kokum have very light, crisp and fresh textures, which are brought together to craft smooth and silky blends. Such light textures lend a quietly seasonal and lively touch to summertime blends which is why this duo stands out as one of the more inspiring combinations brought together for making tropical-themed drinks.
Also Read: Kokum Sherbet In Summer: Follow This Simple Recipe To Make The Traditional Mocktail
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
