The Mai Tai is one of the most common and popular cocktails on the market, and is a staple of cocktail menus all around the world.

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Mai Tai Cocktails: Everything You Need To Know!

Much loved and consumed by many, the Mai Tai is the perfect fruity accompaniment to the summertime, and is a firm favorite amongst mixologists and consumers alike.

But what exactly is a Mai Tai, and what does it taste like?

What Is A Mai Tai?

A Mai Tai is a popular cocktail consisting of rum, curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice. It is widely considered to be one of the signature cocktails of ‘tiki culture’ – an arts and cultural movement inspired by Polynesian and Oceanic art.

While the actual invention of the drink is disputed, many believe that it was invented in 1944 by Victor J. Bergeron at his restaurant Trader Vic’s in Oakland, California.

This was widely contested by Trader Vic’s predecessor Donn Beach, who claimed he actually invented the drink in 1933 – however this claim is largely dismissed.

Today, the origin of the Mai Tai is still contested, and while many have claimed that Beach’s argument is based around its similarity with the ‘Q.B Cooler’ cocktail, the two drinks are actually different enough to stand alone.

What Does A Mai Tai Taste Like?

The Mai Tai cocktail’s signature taste has two distinct characteristics that create the iconic flavor.

The first is the rum, it is the strongest flavor and hits your nose first, which forms the foundation for the entire drink.

The second most prominent ingredient is the orange liqueur, which gives the drink its signature fruity, summery drink taste. The hint of orange pairs perfectly with the sugar and spice of the rum.

How To Make A Mai Tai?

When it comes to making a Mai Tai, the ingredients list is actually relatively simplistic – consisting of only a few ingredients.

Rum

The main ingredient of the Mai Tai is rum, and for this particular recipe you will need about 2 ounces of white rum, and 2 ounces of dark rum.

White rum is slightly lighter and more bitter, whereas dark rum is more akin to demerara sugar, and has a richer taste.

The combination of the two creates a perfect balance between the flavors, and establishes the perfect foundation for the other ingredients.

Syrup

There are two kinds of syrup that generally go into a Mai Tai: simple syrup, and orgeat syrup.

For the simple syrup, you will want around ½ an ounce to add sweetness, and with the orgeat syrup you will need around 1 ounce to give the drink its distinctive citrus flavor palette.

Curacao

Next you will need to add around 1 ounce of orange curacao, although you can also use Triple Sec and Cointreau. This will help add thickness, as well as to enhance the orange flavor of the drink.

Lime Juice

The next ingredient is fresh lime juice, and for this cocktail you will need roughly 2 ounces to create the perfect combination of sourness to the sweet.

Once this has been added, you can then stir the drink slowly, and garnish with lime wedges, and ice cubes. Alternatively, you can also use mint leaves as a form of garnish. Don’t have lime juice? See our article on lime juice substitutes.

Is The Mai Tai Strong?

Generally speaking, the Mai Tai is a strong cocktail and in our experience, you will definitely be feeling the effects!

Are Mai Tais Healthy?

Mai Tai Cocktails: Everything You Need To Know! (1)

While the Mai Tai does have plenty of fruit, unfortunately the main ingredients are still sugar and carbs.

The amount of sugar is increased exponentially when you consider the rum – which itself is made from sugar and other sweet ingredients (such as bananas).

As a rule, a standard Mai Tai will contain around 17 grams of sugar, and about 17 grams of carbohydrates, which means that those on special diets (such as keto) will find themselves brought out of their established patterns if they consume these drinks.

Why Are Mai Tais So Popular?

When it comes to the humble Mai Tai, there are many reasons why the drink has become so consistently popular throughout the world.

Fruity

Firstly, the flavor is very fruity and pleasant, which makes it the perfect summer beverage to consume with friends and family.

This association with the sunshine and the good times has led to the drink developing and forming a ‘fun’ persona, one that people find attractive.

Fresh

Mai Tais are also a fairly refreshing cocktail, especially when served with ice, and this makes them the perfect accompaniment for the hot weather.

Whereas some cocktails can be harsh tasting, bitter, or thick in texture, the Mai Tai is a great palette cleanser, a delicious tasty cocktail, and still one of the strongest on the menu.

Complex

The Mai Tai is also quite complex – at least as far as flavor goes. With the white and brown rum there is a conflict and a marriage of sorts – bringing together the sharpness of the white, and the richness of the dark.

Similarly, with the coming together of sweetness (as in citrus and sugar) and sourness (in the lime juice), there is a flavor palette which, while seeming conflicting, actually achieves a perfect balance.

A Good Time Drink

There is also the fact that, as mentioned above, the Mai Tai is widely considered a good time drink to be consumed in the sun or on the beach.

Association is a powerful thing, and people like to engage with drinks that both make them feel good, and are strong enough to take them to a magical, warm place when they consume them.

This is what the Mai Tai does in spades, providing a little warm breeze akin to some tropical beach – even if you are consuming them in the cold and rain.

Alcohol Content

Finally, they are also popular due to the alcohol content, which is deceivingly high whilst being masked by the sweet, fruity flavors of the mixers.

This makes it the perfect party drink to allow people to get drunk without having to consume things with unpleasant tastes.

What Exactly Is ‘Tiki’ Culture?

Tiki culture is an American art and aesthetic style developed and popularized throughout the 1940s and 50s, and characterized by elements of Polynesian and Hawaiian culture – such as Hawaiian shirts, fruity cocktails, Hawaiian ‘tiki’ mugs and memorabilia, and a general sense of color, fun, and relaxation.

This notion most notably skyrocketed following the Second World War, when American troops stationed in the Pacific became fascinated with the lifestyle they had witnessed.

This theme was also made popular by artists like Elvis Presley – whose 1961 movie Blue Hawaii helped to bolster and popularize the genre even more.

Generally speaking, the style represented a sense of post-war American optimism, and came hand in hand with the growing affluence and spending power of the American people.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, everything you need to know about the Mai Tai cocktail, and what exactly it tastes like!

It’s true that the Mai Tai is one of the most popular and well loved cocktails on the market, and stands as a personal favorite for both mixologists and customers alike.

Fruity, summery, and packed with flavor, it is not hard to see why so many people consider it to be one of the best around.

So if you are looking for your new favorite summer cocktail, then why not try a Mai Tai?

https://youtu.be/QIQvyNmULV0

Mai Tai Cocktails: Everything You Need To Know!

Recipe by AubreyCourse: Taste Like

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

Rum
Syrup

Curacao
Lime Juice

Directions

The main ingredient of the Mai Tai is rum, and for this particular recipe you will need about 2 ounces of white rum, and 2 ounces of dark rum. White rum is slightly lighter and more bitter, whereas dark rum is more akin to demerara sugar, and has a richer taste.
The combination of the two creates a perfect balance between the flavors, and establishes the perfect foundation for the other ingredients.

There are two kinds of syrup that generally go into a Mai Tai: simple syrup, and orgeat syrup. For the simple syrup, you will want around ½ an ounce to add sweetness, and with the orgeat syrup you will need around 1 ounce to give the drink its distinctive citrus flavor palette.
Next you will need to add around 1 ounce of orange curacao, although you can also use Triple Sec and Cointreau. This will help add thickness, as well as to enhance the orange flavor of the drink.
The next ingredient is fresh lime juice, and for this cocktail you will need roughly 2 ounces to create the perfect combination of sourness to the sweet.

Once this has been added, you can then stir the drink slowly, and garnish with lime wedges, and ice cubes. Alternatively, you can also use mint leaves as a form of garnish.

Recipe Video

https://youtu.be/QIQvyNmULV0Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Mai Tai | How to Drink (https://youtu.be/QIQvyNmULV0)

Author
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Aubrey

Founder at Butter And Salt Gatherings

Hi, I’m Aubrey, and I have been a chef for close to 8 years. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, as long as I can remember. I loved my play kitchen when I was a kid, and would offer my parents my own (albeit gross) cookie recipes to taste!

Here at ButterandSaltGatherings, I want to offer a wide range of ingredients, flavors, meals and recipes so that you can start living each day to the fullest, and enjoy only the best food.