Augas frescas

A simple option is to make augas frescas. It is a light non-alcoholic drink commonly made with fruit juice, cold water, sugar, and lime juice. Many recipes call for blending the ingredients together usually using fresh fruits and straining the juice; however, if your bar prefers a can of Dole® pineapple juice that will work as well. Making auga frescas from fruit could also be a great way to prime those Vitamix® Drink Machine blenders before a happy hour full of blended margaritas. On the other hand, if a customer would rather use the syrups they have on hand; try this Torani® recipe for Le Mexique which looks remarkably like augas frescas.

Le Mexique, image courtesy of Torani

Le Mexique

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp (3/4 oz) Torani® Mango Syrup
• 1/2 Tbsp (1/4 oz) Torani® Ginger Syrup
• 1 cup (8oz) sparkling water or club soda
• Ice

Instructions:

Combine Torani® and sparkling water in a glass filled with ice. Stir and enjoy!

Horchata

Another form of augas frescas is Horchata. Rather than being made from fruit juice, it is made with rice, cinnamon, and almonds. The recipe for horchata varies by region. It is usually a white drink that has a spice flavor to it. If you don’t feel like making it fresh, as the process can take some time, Dr. Smoothie has a new Horchata Frappe that will hit the spot for your customers who are looking for a Latin-inspired coffee or sweet treat.

Auga de Jamaica

Jamaica, also known as Hibiscus tea, is a deep red drink often seen alongside Horchata at Mexican restaurants. It has a sweet tart flavor created by steeping dried hibiscus calyces or sepal, and sugar in boiling water. The mixture is usually strained before being poured over ice. Auga de Jamaica will be a fun addition to any of the juices or cocktails on your bar’s menu.

Image courtesy of Pixbay

Tacos

This year Cinco de Mayo falls during the work week which means people may be looking for more food than drinks. The recent trend of Taco Tuesdays makes tacos the go to Mexican food choice for many.  With that in mind, the expectations may be high for your customers. Make sure your kitchen has all the Tortilla Server sets to keep those soft tortillas warm and the tortilla fry baskets to keep the hard taco shells coming.  People may migrate to more tacos than usual so this could be the day to make your tacos $1 or less on your happy hour menu. Restaurants could even offer a combo with a specialty drink and tacos.

Churros

Cactus Margarita Glass courtesy of Libbey

A Mexican meal isn’t complete without a special dessert. Try a churro, a long thin fried-dough pastry with a star shape usually covered with sugar.  In some regions it is eaten for breakfast with coffee or hot chocolate, while in others it is a snack at street stands. In restaurants it is often served with chocolate sauce drizzled over it or with sauce on the side for dipping. The Torani® Mexican Chocolate Sauce recipe made with the Sweet Heat syrup for dipping could be a spicy way to end a meal.

Still want margaritas?

Don’t worry, we still have you covered. Houston’s has plenty of margarita mixers to choose from. We also have lime, lemon, and pineapple juices to make your own fresh margaritas. Houston’s even has fun Margarita Cactus Juniper Stem glasses to add flare your tables.

Call your Houston’s sales representative today to see what Cinco de Mayo options we can help you with.

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