Margarita

Margarita is a cocktail traditionally made with tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur. It is commonly served in a glass with a salted rim and often garnished with a lime wheel. The drink can be prepared on the rocks or as a frozen blend.

Typical proportions are around 2 parts tequila, 1 part lime juice, and 1 part orange liqueur. Fresh lime juice is preferred; 100% agave tequila is commonly recommended. Sweetness is adjusted with agave nectar or simple syrup. Some recipes use orange curaçao or Cointreau instead of triple sec.

Variations include fruit-flavored margaritas such as strawberry or mango, as well as jalapeño-spiced versions. Frozen margaritas blend the ingredients with ice for a slushy consistency, while the on-the-rocks version is shaken and served over ice. The glass is often chilled in advance, and the rim may be salted with margarita salt or a mix of salt and sugar.

Origins are disputed, with multiple attribution claims from mid-20th-century Mexico and the United States. The cocktail is commonly associated with the Mexican and Tex-Man communities, and popular lore ties its creation to figures such as Margarita Sames in the 1940s or various bars in Baja California. Regardless of origin, the margarita gained widespread popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s and remains a staple of tequila-based cocktails worldwide.

In addition to its use as a drink, the term margarita also appears in Spanish as a feminine given name and, via its etymology, relates to the word for daisy and to the concept of pearl in related languages.