Leading up to Leopards Leap’s December cooking classes featuring South African holiday food, why not try this South African inspired wine cocktail made with Rooibos tea, one of South Africa’s most recognizable natural products. Rooibos is known for its healing properties but lately it has developed a fun following as it is becoming a favourite cocktail ingredients for mixologist all over the world.
Also part of the recipe is the quintessential South African ingredient, cinnamon sugar! An integral part of the rich food heritage of South Africa it is reminiscent of favourites such as pancakes and pumpkin fritters.
Mix one of these and enjoy the South African summer – even if holiday is still a month or what away.
Recipe for a South African Summer Wine Cocktail
Rooibos-infused vodka
Ingredients
Makes 500 ml
500 ml quality triple-distilled vodka
30 – 40 ml Rooibos tea (whole sticks, not bags, such as Eleven o’clock Rooibos)
Method
Pour the vodka into a glass jug and add the Rooibos sticks. Stir through, cover with plastic wrap and leave to infuse overnight.
Cinnamon sugar
Ingredients
Makes about half a cup
125 ml castor sugar
25 ml cinnamon
Method
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
For the South African-inspired Wine Cocktail
Ingredients
Makes 1 Wine Cocktail
10 ml cinnamon sugar
½ a thickly cut lemon slice (not a quarter, more like an 1/8th of a lemon)
3 – 4 fresh mint leaves
125 ml 2015 Leopard’s Leap Unwooded Chardonnay
15 ml Rooibos-infused vodka
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Small handful of crushed ice
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