Sonoran Citrus Mint Cordial™
As seen on the Sonoran Living program.

What at great way to use up some of that citrus on our trees! It is also an interesting way to get a little extra vitamin C and antioxidant. Of course all this citrus has lots of vitamin C to offer and the essential oils from the rind is full of antioxidant power!

This is a fun recipe to make for a special party or for gifts. The recipe calls for Vodka, but you can also leave the alcohol out for a non-alcoholic cordial. This non-alcohol cordial would be good mixed with champagne and orange juice for a Sunday morning brunch or to be enjoyed the same way the alcoholic version would be.

To serve, I blend the cordial with a bit of sparkling water and fresh squeezed orange juice over ice to make a refreshing drink that everyone will love. Play with other blends, like with cranberry juice and sparkling water or with ginger ale.

Make this cordial to take to your friends on your next visit out of state. It is a great way to share a little Arizona sunshine with others.

For best results, it is good to make the cordial a few weeks ahead to allow the flavors to blend and mature. If you are making this non-alcoholic, it does not need to be made ahead of time but it will need to be stored in the refrigerator – it will last easily for 6 weeks. When blended with alcohol, it may be stored at room temperature, but it is a good idea to store it in (and serve it cold from) the refrigerator.

Spring is coming, and it is a perfect time to have garden parties. Serve some Sonoran Citrus Splash™ and make some raves!

Ingredients: makes 8 cups of Sonoran Citrus™ Base and 18 cups Cordial with the Vodka.

Non-alchohlic version also works great.

10 cups	good quality Vodka(optional)
4 ½ cups + 1 cup	sugar (white granulated is best for color)
2 1/2 cup	filtered water
3 total	grapefruit
5 total	lemons
7 total	oranges
8 total	limes
4 cups + a few sprigs	fresh mint (optional)

Directions:

In a large pot put sugar and water warm over very low heat. While it is getting warmed, cut the rind off of 1 grapefruit, 2 lemons, 3 oranges and 3 limes. Make sure to not get too much of the white pith since it is bitter. Chop up the rind in medium to small pieces. (You can use a micro plane to take off the rind but be careful to leave the white pith behind!. Put all the rind into the pot with the sugar and water.

Cut off the white pith from all the fruit you just took the rind off of and then slice into circles. Add to the sugar water.

Put a lid on the pot and let cook on low for 15 minutes and then add 2 cups of fresh mint from the garden. Pinch off the top 2-3 inches and put in as is without needing to chop, etc. Place cover on pot and let cook on low heat to another 20 minutes. The pot never boils but it should get very hot. Turn off heat and let it sit for 10 minutes or so.

With a slotted spoon, remove most of the citrus and mint from the sugar water and discard. Then, repeat the above process, putting more fresh citrus back into the pot for a second round of warming. Cook on warm as above.

This time, let the mixture cool for 30 minutes and then strain completely through a strainer lined with cheese cloth. This will give you the Sonoran Citrus™ base. You can stop here if you do not want to add the alcohol. Bottle, label and store the non-alcoholic base in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. *

To add the alcohol, mix the 8 cups of base to 10 cups of good quality vodka in a large glass container with a tight fitting lid. Peel the rind only (no white) of 1 grapefruit, 1 lemon, 1 orange and 2 limes. Add to the cordial mixture along with 1 cup of sugar. Shake well and store out of the light for 2-4 weeks, shaking occasionally. When you are ready, strain the mixture through cheesecloth again and pour into decorative jars. ( I like to strain into a large measuring cup to make pouring into decorative jars easier. Use a funnel if needed to get cordial into bottles with narrow necks.)

Pour into decorative bottles. Label. Put directions for use on bottle. Enjoy!

Here are some suggestions on how to serve:

1) Mix 1 ½ oz. of cordial with 2 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice and 2 oz. of sparkling water. Serve over ice. Garnish with fresh mint and citrus wheels.

2) Also try blending with cranberry juice and sparkling water. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh citrus wheels and mint sprigs.

3) Ginger Ale is a nice mixer as well. Serve over ice and serve with citrus wheels and mint sprig.

4) Make a spiked iced tea by adding 2 oz to a glass of iced tea.

As a hot toddy: Add cordial to hot green tea or to hot mint tea.


* Here are some ideas to use Sonoran Citrus Splash™ without the Vodka:

1) Use as per directions above to make delicious non-alcoholic beverages.

2) Pour into champagne with a little bit of fresh squeezed orange juice.

3) Use as the sweet and sour in a margarita.

Enjoy!