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The Mai Tai, one of the most iconic tropical cocktails
in the Pacific, owes its name to the Tahitian word Maita'i, which means ‘good’. And the very name pretty much sums up
this favorite drink of Hawaii that carries the goodness of tropical flavors and
freshness. This alcoholic cocktail made using dark rum, white rum, lime juice,
and Curaçao triple sec offers you a glimpse into the refreshing taste of the
Pacific islands and instantly transports you to the magical Tiki-themed clubs
of the 1960s.
History: A man, a drink, and a dispute
The story behind the origins of this classic cocktail
is shrouded in dispute and quite a bit of drama regarding who the original
inventor is. Some say it was first invented by Victor Jules Bergeron, the legendary restaurateur, the founder of Trader
Vic chain of restaurants and one of the founding fathers of Tiki culture. The
Trader Vic version of the story behind the Mai Tai goes thus:
One afternoon in 1944, Bergeron
created a drink to serve a few of his friends who visited him from Tahiti. One of
these friends named Carrie Guild was quite impressed by the drink and he
showered his appreciation Tahitian language, crying out "Maita'i roa ae!” which literally means “very good”. The Tahitian phrase uttered by Guild was
shortened into ‘Maita'i’,
which in turn became Mai Tai in the years to come. History also has it that Bergeron created a version of his original Mai Tai for
the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. This version, which has pineapple juice added to it,
is continued to be served at the hotel till day.
However, Bergeron couldn’t have
the credit all for himself. Some people claim that Bergeron’s rival and
contemporary restaurateur Don the Beachcomber invented this cocktail in 1933,
more than a decade before Bergeron came up with his recipe. Either way, the
Mai Thai rose in popularity in the 1950s and 60s and was served in many Tiki-themed
Polynesian bars and restaurants in the United States and across the world. Over
the years, it has become almost synonymous with Tiki culture. Those who watched
Blue Hawaii, a musical romantic
comedy starring Elvis Presley, would have noticed the unmistakable featuring of
this classic cocktail on the screen.
Health benefits
of the Mai Tai
Mai Tai has no known health benefits apart from its
refreshing properties and the nutritional properties of fruit juices used in
its preparation. It goes without saying that like any other alcoholic cocktail,
it too should be consumed in moderation.
Ingredients and preparation
The
original Mai Tai recipe has undergone several changes and been tweaked by many
ever since its invention. The good news
is that this drink leaves plenty of room for customization, so you can either
go for the classic version containing lime juice or make a very fruity version
by adding pineapple juice, orange juice, etc. in it.
- · Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- · Making Time: 5 min
- · Serves: 1 person
- · Level of mixing: Easy
- · Base spirit: Rum
- · Preparation: Shaken
- · Cocktail type: Tropical, Tiki
Ingredients
- · White rum - 2 tbsps.
- · Dark rum - 2 tbsps.
- · Triple sec - 2 tbsps.
- · Grenadine – 1 tbsp.
- · Orgeat or almond syrup – I tbsp.
- · Lime juice – half a lime
- · Maraschino cherry / mint (for garnish)
- · Ice
Directions
- · Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker
- · Put some ice cubes in a glass
- · Pour the liquid over the ice
- · Garnish with the cherry or mint
Nutrition Info
Each
serving contains:
- · Calories: 284
- · Carbohydrate: 19.6 g
- · Protein: 0.1 g
- · Fibre: 0.2 g
- · Sugars: 16.6 g
Being a
tropical drink, the Mai Tai cocktail is ideal for hot summers. There might be
disputes regarding who created this classic, delicious drink. But it is clearly
beyond any dispute that the Mai Tai cocktail is a refreshingly delicious blend
of tropical flavors. Try it at the comfort of your home and bring a whiff of
Hawaii into your living room.
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