This strawberry habanero infused tequila is one of the most versatile things you can make at home. Fresh strawberries give it a deep, fruity sweetness. Habanero chiles bring a slow, building heat that lingers on the finish. After seven days the tequila turns a beautiful deep pink. It’s stunning in a glass straight over ice, and it’s the base for an amazing cocktail, the Strawberry Habanero Prickly Pear Margarita from The Parish in Tucson.
The technique is simple. You don’t need any special equipment beyond a half-gallon mason jar. The hardest part is waiting.
What Makes It Special
Most infused tequilas use one flavor. This one layers two. Strawberries mellow and sweeten the tequila while the habaneros build heat slowly from the back. The result is balanced rather than one-note. Keeping the seeds and membrane in the habaneros is what gives it real heat. If you want a gentler version, remove the seeds before adding the chiles, but don’t remove them entirely or you lose the point of the recipe.
The Parish bar in Tucson developed this infusion as the base for their signature Strawbanero Prickly Pear Margarita. This is the recipe they shared for my Taste of Tucson Cookbook.
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
7 days days
Total Time: 7 days days 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 -15
Recipe for tequila infused with fresh fruit and chiles. Use a half-gallon lidded mason jar, 100% blue agave silver tequila and as many habanero chiles as you can handle.
- 1 750 ml bottle 100% silver blue agave tequila
- 1 pint strawberries hulled and halved
- 3-5 habanero chiles stems removed and chiles halved (do not remove the seeds or membrane)
Put the strawberries and chiles in the mason jar, then pour in the tequila.
Screw on the lid and let sit at room temperature for 7 days. The tequila will become a beautiful slightly dark pink color.
Strain through a fine mesh strainer and then pour back into the original bottle or the mason jar for future use.
How long does it take to infuse tequila with strawberries and habaneros? Seven days at room temperature. The tequila will deepen in color and flavor throughout the week. Don't rush it. Three or four days won't give you the full flavor development.
What tequila should I use? Use a 100% blue agave silver tequila. Blanco or plata tequilas work best because their clean, bright flavor lets the strawberry and habanero come through without competing. Avoid reposado or añejo, the oak aging adds complexity that muddles the fruit and chile flavors.
How hot is this infused tequila? Habaneros are significantly hotter than jalapeños, rating between 100,000 and 350,000 on the Scoville scale. The strawberries temper the heat considerably but this is still a genuinely spicy tequila. Start with three habaneros for moderate heat and work up to five if you want serious fire.
Should I remove the seeds from the habaneros? The recipe calls for keeping the seeds and membrane intact, which is where most of the heat lives. If you want a milder result remove the seeds before adding the chiles. Don't skip the habaneros entirely, the heat is fundamental to what makes this infusion work.
How long does infused tequila keep? Store it in a sealed bottle or mason jar at room temperature away from direct sunlight. It keeps well for up to two months, though the strawberry flavor will gradually fade after the first few weeks. The heat from the habaneros holds longer.
What can I make with strawberry habanero infused tequila? The most obvious use is a spicy margarita... try it in my Strawberry Habanero Prickly Pear Margarita from The Parish. It also makes an excellent straight sipper over ice with a squeeze of lime, or a base for a spicy paloma with grapefruit soda. Course cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine Mexican, Sonoran
Keyword infused tequila recipe, mexican cocktail recipe, sonoran recipe, Strawberry Habanero Infused Tequila recipe, sweet and spicy cocktail recipe, Taste of Tucson cookbook recipe, Taste of Tucson recipe, The Parish Tucson recipe, Tucson Sonora recipe
