The Perfect Latino Valentine's Cocktails

All of these delicious cocktails are filled with Latino flavor and are the perfect option to accompany that romantic Valentine’s dinner.

Chocolate Margarita

Ingredients

1/2 cup chocolate syrup
8 ounces tequila
1/4 ounces chocolate liqueur
1/3 cup half and half
1/3 cup orange liqueur
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

To rim the glasses: Put the syrup in a small dish. Moisten the rims of 4 margarita or martini glasses with the chocolate syrup.

Combine all of the ingredients, except ice, in a pitcher. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a shaker full of ice. Shake and pour into the prepared glasses. Serve cold.

Aphrodisiacs in this recipe

Chocolate: The Mayan civilizations worshipped the Cacao tree and called it “food of the gods.” Rumor has it that the Aztec ruler Montezuma drank 50 goblets of chocolate each day to enhance his sexual abilities. Chocolate contains anandamide, the psyochoactive feel-good chemical, and PEA (phenylethylamine), the “love chemical,” which releases dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain. PEA is said to help induce feelings of excitement, attraction and euphoria. Cacao also contains tryptophan, a key component of the neurotransmitter serotonin known to promote a sense of well-being and relaxation.
Cinnamon: Studies have documented that its warm aroma is incredibly arousing.

Mojito

Ingredients

2 teaspoons white sugar
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
4 sprigs fresh mint
1/2 cup white rum
2 cups club soda
2 cups crushed ice
2 wedges lime, as garnish

Preparation

Place 1 teaspoon of sugar into each of two 12 ounce glasses. Squeeze the juice from a lime wedge into each glass, drop in the wedge, and add 2 sprigs of mint. Use a spoon or muddler to mash the sugar, lime juice, and mint together in the bottom of the glasses. Fill each glass about half full with crushed ice. Pour 1/4 cup rum into each glass. Fill the glasses with club soda, stir, and garnish with additional lime wedges.

Aphrodisiacs in this recipe

Mint: mint’s fresh, sweet, aroma is uplifting and energizing. And thanks to menthol in mint, the herb creates an intriguing cooling sensation on the palate.

Sangria

Ingredients

1 Bottle of red wine
1 Lemon cut into wedges
1 Orange cut into wedges
1 Lime cut into wedges
2 Tbsp sugar
Splash of orange juice or lemonade
1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries
1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice)
4 Cups ginger ale

Preparation

Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over lots of ice. However, remember that the best Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the refrigerator – allowing the flavors to really marinate into each other.

Aphrodisiacs in this recipe

Red Wine: red wine is relaxing and it contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps boost blood flow and improves circulation.
Ginger: People have deemed ginger root an aphrodisiac for centuries because of its scent and because it stimulates the circulatory system.

Author
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Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz

Paula moved from her native Guatemala to SW Florida with her husband and two children and together they are discovering what it means to live life between two languages.

Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .

When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.

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