Try Guava Chilli Jam, An Able Addition To Your Next Cocktail
Guavas are incorporated into different cocktail recipes such as the margarita cocktail or a tropical piña colada in the form of purees, juices and guava slices. These are ways of introducing the fruit’s sweet and tart notes into variations of classic cocktail recipes.
Over time, mixologists have also begun to experiment with guava jams and jellies as interesting additions to different cocktail concoctions.
Simultaneously, guava jam in itself can also be paired with multiple ingredients to introduce spicy and sweet qualities into the spread.
One such element that is often paired with the fruit is chillies. Red chilli powder and even jalapeños are often added to guava jam to introduce their spiciness into the fruit. Chilli and guava is a classic combination as it brings two contrasting tastes together in a flavourful blend.
When added to cocktails a guava jam comprising chilli will enable it to build more flavour and depth into relatively simple recipes.
A Touch Of Sweetness
When guava jams are added to cocktails like the margarita or the mojito, they reduce the need for adding more of simple syrup or other sweeteners to the drinks. The jam made by blending guavas and sugar is sweet enough to build this flavour note into mixes. It can be muddled with lime juice, mint leaves and ginger to create flavoured mojitos, gin fizzes or other spritzers which contain a subtle hint of the fruit’s flavours.
Additionally, a guava jam will also introduce a syrupy note into a cocktail, imbuing it with a new layer of flavour.
A Hint Of Spiciness
Such a guava jam when made with the addition of chilli powder also contains contrasting spicy notes. When these make it into margarita recipes, the drink acquires a potent spicy touch, building into the complex combination of sour, sweet and acidic tastes.
The spiciness and heat brought in by the chillies also undercuts the sweetness in the guava jam to make for a well-balanced drink. A spoonful of this jam can be stirred into a bloody mary or a mojito for introducing its flavours into the blends.
Making Chilli Guava Jam
One of the more interesting reasons for preparing and storing chilli guava jam at home is that this can be brought out long after the guava season has gone by for introducing the fruit’s flavours into different cocktails.
Guava jams last longer when they are stored well in mason jars and can act as intelligent mixers in the making of several tropical fruit-based drinks. Chilli guava jam can be prepared easily at home by following a simple recipe.
Read on below for a simple note on the ingredients and method involved in crafting homemade chilli guava jam:
Ingredients:
5-6 ripe guavas
1-2 red chilli peppers like jalapeños (remove the seeds to minimise the heat)
1 cup sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup water
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
½ tbsp salt
Mason jars for storing the jam
Method:
Start making the jam by prepping the guavas. Peel the fruits, deseed them and chop finely.
Chop the jalapeños.
Place a saucepan over medium heat and combine chopped guavas, chillies, sugar, vinegar and salt. Add a splash of water only if the mixture appears to be too thick.
Let the mixture simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes or until the guavas have turned soft. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.
Stir the lime juice next, once the jam is off the flame for a bit of acidity.
Pour the hot jam into sterilised mason jars and cool it to room temperature before sealing the containers. Store them in a refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
Pro tip: Prepare a water bath and place the containers inside for 2-3 hours before putting them in the refrigerator so the jam stays fresh for longer. Once the jar is opened, use the jam within a couple of weeks.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
