Verdita (makes 12 Shots)
A refreshing and spicy cocktail ∙ Blend ∙ 4 min ∙
The Verdita (makes 12 Shots) is a non-alcoholic Mexican chaser of pineapple juice blended with cilantro, mint, chili and salt, served alongside tequila.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Blend all ingredients without ice: Coriander/Cilantro leaves 10 sprigsFresh mint leaves 20 pcsRed chili pepper 1 pcPineapple juice 450 mlSalt 2 pinches
- Fine strain into a suitable storage container from which to pour into individual shot glasses
- Refrigerate
- Shake before use and use within 3 days
Tips
- Blend everything without ice until the cilantro and mint are fully broken down, then fine strain so no leafy pulp reaches the shot glasses.
History
Verdita is a traditional Mexican tequila chaser whose name means "little green," a counterpart to the tomato-and-chili shot called sangrita. Both are said to have grown out of a home custom in Mexico of blending leftover fruit and chili from salads into a spicy juice to sip alongside tequila. Sangrita was built on pomegranate or tomato and orange, while verdita took shape as a green version usually based on pineapple with cilantro, mint, and chili. Bartenders describe it as especially associated with southern Mexico, where a shot of verdita, a shot of tequila, and a shot of red sangrita are sometimes lined up together as the "Mexican flag," echoing the colors of the national flag.
The drink has no single credited inventor and circulated mainly by word of mouth and home tradition before reaching bar menus abroad in the 2000s and 2010s. These included London's Casita tequila bar and at several Chicago bars such as the Whistler, which began serving it around 2009 and added it to its menu in 2012.
FAQ
What is a Verdita?
A non-alcoholic Mexican shot of blended cilantro, mint, chili pepper, and pineapple juice, strained and served cold as a chaser alongside tequila or mezcal.
How do you make a Verdita?
Blend cilantro, mint, a red chili pepper, pineapple juice, and two pinches of salt without ice, then fine strain into a container and refrigerate. Shake before pouring into shot glasses and use within three days.
What does Verdita mean?
Verdita is Spanish for "little green one," after the bright green color the blended cilantro and mint give it. In English it is often described simply as a green tequila chaser or green shot.
What does Verdita taste like?
It tastes herbal and grassy from the cilantro and mint, sweetened by pineapple juice, with a building heat from the chili pepper and a light salt edge. The finish is clean and slightly spicy, which is what makes it work as a palate-refreshing chaser.
How does Verdita complement tequila?
It is drunk right after a shot of tequila: the mint and cilantro refresh the palate and cut the spirit's heat, the pineapple adds sweetness, and the chili echoes tequila's own bite.