Orange vs Grapefruit Margarita | Citrus Margaritas | How to make

Margaritas are one of the most popular alcoholic beverages worldwide. It’s a type of cocktail you can never go wrong choosing. Another thing that makes margaritas so amazing is that you can customize the ingredients to your liking. To make a margarita all you need is 4 simple ingredients. Such as, Tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup. It is so versatile that almost any fruit can be paired with this ingredient list. In this tutorial we decided to make 2 completely different citrus types of margaritas.  The first cocktail is a Grapefruit Margarita, and the second is a Cara Orange Margarita.

What is the difference between a cara orange to a regular orange?

There are many different types of oranges out in the market. Some are sweeter than others, and some have a different flesh color on the inside of its peel. We used a cara orange for this cocktail, and a cara orange has a brighter, and pinkish flesh color compared to the common orange. The taste is much sweeter as well when compared to a common orange. The common orange typically has a balance of sweet and sour in its juice. The cara orange can be compared and often confused with the blood orange. However, blood oranges contain a much darker flesh color. 

Is a grapefruit similar to an orange?

A grapefruit looks very similar to an orange. The outside of a grapefruit is shaped like an orange, feels like an orange, and has almost the same peel color. The only difference is that a grapefruit can be 3 times the size of an orange. On the inside of the fruit, the flesh of a grapefruit is much darker than of an orange. It is comparily similar to the cara orange when comparing the flesh. However, the taste is dramatically different. A grapefruit is not sweet. Instead, it is sour and bitter in flavor. Some people hate it, others love it. When it comes to cocktails, it is a great choice of fruit to blend other flavors with. Many cocktails can be made using a grapefruit that will blow your mind with its flavors.

Now that the differences between the two fruits being used are explained let’s get started with the tutorial. 

How to make Grapefruit Margarita

The grapefruit margarita is a delicious one. If you are into “Palomas” then you will love this grapefruit twist on a margarita. The tartness of the grapefruit really balances the flavors of the tequila, and lime juice. It feels like these ingredients are meant to be mixed together because of its smooth results. In addition to its smoothness, this cocktail is also very light and refreshing. It is a perfect beverage to have during a hot day. Unlike other fruity cocktails, the grapefruit is lower in calories which explains why it is very light to consume. 

Why is it similar to a paloma? Well simply because in a paloma it consists of tequila, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and club soda. Ditch the club soda, and add a little bit of lime juice and triple sec and you have yourself a margarita. Want it sweet? You can add some simple syrup or agave syrup to sweeten up your cocktail.

Grapefruit Margarita | How to make | Party Shaker

Ingredients:

  • Tequila 1 ½ oz
  • Triple sec ½ oz 
  • Lime juice ¼ oz
  • Simple syrup ½ oz
  • Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice 1 oz

Directions: 

Useful tools: While squeezing the grapefruit, use a fine strainer to avoid pulp or seeds in your cocktail.

Add all the ingredients into your cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake thoroughly , and pour your cocktail into your glass filled with ice. Garnish your cocktail with some lime wheels and a big ole grapefruit piece. 

How to make Cara Orange Margarita

The cara orange margarita is another citrus addition to try. Cara orange looks very similar to the grapefruit which is why we decided to compare the two. The cara orange margarita tasted uniquely different. It had its own distinctive flavors that made a very big difference. Firstly, you can quickly taste the sweetness. It is not overwhelmingly sweet, but it is sweet enough to make this beverage a great one. Another difference is that it was way less sour than the grapefruit version. I believe the orange overpowered the lime juice, while enhancing the flavors of the orange liqueur. The orange liqueur is also commonly known as triple sec. Overall, this beverage was very easy to make with the simple fresh ingredients that are listed below. It is definitely worth a try when you want to twist up your classic margarita.

Cara Orange Margarita | How to make | Party Shakers

Ingredients:

  • Tequila 1 ½ oz
  • Triple sec ½ oz
  • Lime juice ¼ oz
  • Simple syrup ½ oz 
  • Freshly squeezed cara orange juice 1 oz 

Directions:

Useful tools: While squeezing the cara orange, use a fine strainer to avoid pulp or seeds in your cocktail.

Same thing as the first cocktail, add all the ingredients into your cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake thoroughly , and pour your cocktail into your glass filled with ice. Garnish your cocktail with an orange wedge, and/or some lime pieces.

Questions and answers 

Why do people love margaritas? 

People love margaritas because of their sweet and sour notes that perfectly blend with tequila.

How many types of margaritas can be made?

There can be unlimited versions of margaritas. All it needs to be classified as a margarita is a mixture of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice.

Which margarita is better blended, or on the rocks? 

While blended margaritas look amazing, and taste amazing, it is often watered down by the ice that was used to blend the cocktail. 

To conclude:

Margaritas can be customized to include many different flavors. It is so fun to experiment with different kinds of fruits, peppers, and other ingredients to make your version of a margarita. The simple main ingredients allow for many different flavors to blend perfectly. Let us know by commenting down below how your version of these citrus margaritas turned out. Let us know your favorite version and what makes it so unique. We love to read what our creative cocktail lovers’ preferences are.