Pomelo Paloma Cocktails

You know that sometimes I invent recipes based on the name alone, and that I’m a huge fan of alliteration (see also: millet skillet cornbread). And that’s exactly how we ended up with my pomelo paloma cocktail.

A paloma is a drink that’s the kissing cousin to the margarita. It’s got a tequila base, a healthy splash of lime juice, and can be made with either grapefruit soda or fresh grapefruit juice.

I personally love the bittersweet tang of fresh grapefruit juice, so that’s what I usually use in my palomas.

If you dislike the bitterness of grapefruit, you might be tempted to stop reading right now.

But I’m suggesting that maybe you try a pomelo in place of a grapefruit and see how it goes.

What is a pomelo?

Pomelos, also frequently spelled pummelos, are actually the ancestors of today’s grapefruits. They’re one of the original ancient citrus varieties that spread from Asia throughout the world.

Pomelos were crossbred with sweet oranges at some point in the 1600s and–voila!–what we know as the grapefruit was born.

Though a pomelo has a very similar taste to grapefruit, I think the pomelo is more floral and subtly sweeter

You know how Meyer lemons taste a little more perfumey than the more common Eureka lemons? That’s kind of how the difference is here.

Pomelos typically have a greenish-yellow hue to their skin, and the segments inside can range in hue from ruddy pink to pale yellow.

They also have a thicker pith than grapefruits. Picking one up, you might think it feels insulated!

You can zest the rind just as you would any citrus, making sure not to pick up too much of the pith as you do.

Use the pomelo zest to flavor your simple syrup for the pomelo paloma, or blend it with granulated sugar to make citrus sugar.

To flavor simple syrup:

Bring equal parts granulated sugar and water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently to help the sugar dissolve.

(I usually make a big batch with 1 cup (200 grams) sugar to 1 cup water, but you can halve that.)

When the liquid comes to a simmer and turns from cloudy to clear, take the pan off heat and stir in about 1 tablespoon citrus zest per cup of water.

I’m never truly measuring out how much zest I use, just eyeballing it, so I’ll go with 1 lime per cup if I’m doing lime simple syrup.

For pomelo simple syrup, I estimate about 1/4 of the pomelo rind.

So let’s make this cocktail!

First, you have to juice the pomelo. And since it’s bigger than any other citrus fruit you’ve probably juiced before, I have a quick tip.

Slice the pomelo in half through the equator, then cut each half into quarters. That way, each quarter will be a manageable enough size for both handheld squeeze juicers or electric juicers.

Once you have your fresh pomelo juice and your citrus-flavored simple syrup, the pomelo paloma cocktail itself is a breeze. An island breeze, that is.

Shake the juice and simple syrup together with tequila and fresh lime juice, and you’re all set.

Add a lime wedge for garnish, if desired, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

And while you’re at it, raise a glass to the weird and wonderful world of citrus too!

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Pomelo Paloma Cocktails

Yield: 2 drinks

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Make pomelo paloma cocktails with fresh pomelo juice instead of the usual grapefruit juice. It's a fresh take on a classic tequila drink.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh pomelo juice (from 1-2 pomelos)
• 1/2 cup lime- or pomelo-flavored simple syrup
• 6 tablespoons (3 fluid ounces) blanco or reposado tequila
• 1/4 cup (2 fluid ounces) fresh lime juice
• 2 lime wedges for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Add a few handfuls of ice to a cocktail shaker or quart-sized mason jar.
2. Pour in the pomelo juice, simple syrup, tequila, and lime juice.
3. Shake well.
4. Fill 2 highball glasses with ice.
5. Strain the paloma into the 2 glasses, dividing evenly.
6. Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.

Notes

To flavor simple syrup, add about 1 tablespoon citrus zest per cup of water.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 541Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 129gFiber: 7gSugar: 77gProtein: 4g

The nutritional information above is computer-generated and only an estimate.

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