Mango Lime Kombucharita ~ Kombucharita de Mango y Limón

With each passing year, I anxiously await the arrival of spring more and more. I look for signs at every turn–from the appearance of the first robins to the green daffodil stems that pop through the snow to the blooming of the yellow forsythia.

I know that around Tax Day (April 15th) the grass starts to turn a rich green and the flowering trees begin to bloom, and by the time Cinco de Mayo is here the trees are lush with their emerald-hued leaves and the scent of lilacs floats on the soft breeze.

My heart always flutters a bit when I see the Manila/Champagne mangoes arrive at the grocery stores during this time, too. The sight and smell of them provokes a wave of emotion and memories. They remind me of my first trip to Mexico, and how I would eat them as an after dinner dessert, my hands sticky from their sweet juices. And, they remind me of my Mom, who became a true mango aficionado much later in life and would buy them buy the box-full when they would come in season.

My margarita this year is an ode to the beauty of this seasonality and incorporates buttery mangoes, tart lime, flowery honey, and zippy kombucha.

I decided to put a healthy spin on the classic margarita this year by substituting kombucha for the traditional tequila. Kombucha is a fermented sweet tea that is made with the help of a SCOBY (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast). You can make your own (that’s me!) or you can buy it pre-bottled from a health foods store like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Even local supermarkets carry it now. It comes in a variety of flavors and my favorite part is its unanticipated effervescence. But, it gets even better! Kombucha is teaming with healthy bacteria which makes it an all-star food for your gut. It’s okay to say adiós to tequila because your new amigo, kombucha, will not let you down. 

The lovely, Kate, of ¡Hola! Jalapeño is hosting the 3rd Annual Margarita Week to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Along with my new-age Mango Lime Kombucharita, you will find over 100 margarita-inspired recipes from other fellow bloggers. Whether you are celebrating with friends, hosting a barbecue, or simply enjoying a sunny May weekend, you can spice up the celebration with one of these creations.

Salud to seasonal treats, health, sunshine, and good company! ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

mango lime kombucharita

Click here for printable recipe.  

1 Champagne/Manila mango, cut into cubes

Zest and juice of 1 lime

1 TBSP honey

1 cup kombucha (flavor of your choice)*

½ cup crushed ice

Salt for rim*

→Add mango, zest, lime juice, honey, and kombucha to blender. Blend for 1 minute or until smooth.

→Using the leftover lime to rub the rim of a glass in order to dampen it. Dip the rim in salt. Add crushed ice to the glass and pour kombucharita over top. Garnish with a slice of lime if desired.

NOTES:

• I used Health-Ade lemon-ginger kombucha for this recipe, but any citrusy kombucha would work great here. You could even try using a mango kombucha for added mango flavor. The possibilities really are endless.

• I used red Hawaiian salt for added color, but once again you could use any salt or sugar for the rim.