The sweet floral taste of Damiana makes it an ideal addition to drinks and the perfect ‘secret ingredient’ in your margarita. In fact, the ‘real’ margarita was originally prepared with a generous amount of Damiana – which is also where the spice of this legendary drink comes from. Damiana liqueur was first made by the Guaycura Indians of Baja California, Mexico – an area where Damiana naturally thrives. It was first used in religious ceremonies, but was later banned because of its aphrodisiac effects. It is considered such a powerful aphrodisiac in Mexico that in some parts of the country, new brides are given a bottle of Damiana liqueur as a wedding gift – to encourage fertility. The Damiana liqueurs you can buy in stores can vary from brand to brand in terms of sweetness and taste. Especially if you have Damiana, it’s always better to prepare your own Damiana liqueur; it’s easy and you do it with little effort.
How to make a Damiana liqueur
You will need the following:
- 30 grams of Damiana
- ½ tablespoon vanilla pods
- 2 tablespoons angelica
- 2 tablespoons Saw Palmetto berries
- 750 ml tequila
- 750 ml water
- 1 cup honey
The preparation process: 1. Grind the herbs and add them to your 750 ml tequila. 2. Let them soak in a cool, dark place for at least 1 week. 3. After 1 week, filter out the ingredients using a colander or, preferably, a paper coffee filter. 4. Soak the mixture again in 750 ml of water in a cool and dark place for 1 week. 5. Filter the water infusion the same way you did with the tequila. 6. Heat the water infusion in a pan to about 80 degrees. 7. Dissolve one cup of honey in the hot water. 8. Let the mixture cool and then stir it into the tequila. 9. Put it in a bottle and let it stand for a month. There you have it, your own Damiano liqueur is ready to use – perfect for margaritas! Of course it is possible to add your own ingredients, use vodka or other spirits, don’t be afraid to experiment!
Making a perfect Damiana margarita
With Damiana liqueur as a base for your margarita mix, you can make your drink even more delicious. It’s a well-kept secret that you won’t find in many places. In fact, there’s only one place in the world where you’ll find it (and it’s extremely popular) and that’s Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. If you’ve ever had a famous margarita there, you’ve probably noticed the distinctive sweet and floral flavor that makes the drink so unique. Well, that comes from Damiana! To make the perfect Damiana margerita, put the following ingredients in a blender:
- 50 ml Damiano liqueur on tequila base
- 50 ml Cointreau
- 28 ml fresh lime juice
- 2 splashes of orange bitters
Shake it well, then strain it twice over a chilled (preferably frozen) cocktail glass with salt on the rim. That’s it! You now have the perfect margarita that will amaze your friends and family with its delicious taste. Make sure you are ready to make more! It’s perfect for parties and for chilling outside on sunny and relaxing days by the pool. But remember, Damiana can add some extra heat. ingredient
