The funny thing about being a Kiwi exporter is that when you’re dreaming of red wine by a roaring fire, your customers on the other side of the world are craving long, cool drinks by the pool.
It’s cookout and beach season in the US, so we’re celebrating with this round up of our favourite Kiwano-style cool drinks. Plus summer here is only around 180 days away…so let’s get mixing!
Kiwano – the hydrating fruit
Kiwano has several properties which make it a natural hydrator. Firstly, it’s has a high water content, at around 88%. It’s also a source of the electrolytes magnesium and potassium. Potassium in particular helps to maintain a normal water balance in the body, while magnesium – among many other benefits – helps to beat tiredness and fatigue. Paired with some citrus, ice and something sparkly, Kiwano transforms into the ultimate thirst quencher.
How to prepare your Kiwano
Let’s start with the prep. Although its spiky exterior looks a little intimidating, Kiwano is easy to prepare. Take a sharp knife and slice through the middle. This will reveal a bright green pulp. Now take a butter knife and insert several times into the half Kiwano to loosen the pulp away from the skin. Finally turn the Kiwano half upside down over a bowl and (holding carefully between the spikes) give it a few good squeezes. The pulp will drop into the bowl. Watch our video if you’d like to see the prep in action.
Use this pulp in any of the recipes below. Make sure you save a slice or two as a garnish.
Below you’ll find a list of our favourite long cool summer drinks to beat the hottest summer day.
Kiwano Mocktail
This delicious no-refined sugar mocktail by @servingupsimplicity is refreshing, healthy plus looks pretty special! Guaranteed to put a spring in your step.
Ingredients:
- 1 Enzed Exotics Kiwano
- 1 Lemon
- Tablespoon of honey
- Sparkling water
- Ice
What to do:
Blend and then strain the pulp of one Kiwano to extract its juice. Add the Kiwano juice, juice of one lemon, honey and ice to shaker, shake! Pour into a glass, top with sparkling water and garnish with a slice of Kiwano.
Kiwano Daiquiri
When circumstances are preventing you from going to an actual tropical island, you can still get those holiday feels by whipping up one of these beauties. The Kiwano Daiquiri is a very simple twist on the classic, with that same refreshing fruity flavour. Created by talented craft mixologist Natalie Migliarini of @Beautiful Booze.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz white rum
- Pulp from 1/2 Enzed Exotics Kiwano
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1/2 oz sugar syrup
What to do:
Add the Kiwano pulp into a cocktail shaker with the rum, lime juice and sugar syrup. Shake hard to combine and chill the ingredients. Fine strain into a coupe glass, garnish with a wedge of Kiwano.
Kiwano Reeves
Party time, excellent! Our homage to 90s pop culture is a mysteriously fruity, dangerously delicious concoction. The Kiwano Reeves cocktail is refreshing, fun and easy to make for a crowd.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Enzed Exotics Kiwano
- 3 mint leaves
- 2 ounces (60ml) gin
- 1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice (or about half a lemon)
- Prosecco/sparkling wine
What to do:
Slice Kiwano in half. Scoop out the pulp from half of the Kiwano into a cocktail shaker. Add the mint leaves and muddle vigorously. Add the gin and lemon juice. Shake with ice and strain in to melon half (or use a glass!) Top with prosecco or your favourite sparkling wine. Garnish with a Kiwano slice.
Thanks to Fruit Maven for allowing us to share this recipe.
Kiwano Gin and Tonic
Oh boy do we love a good G n’ T round here. This is a classic gin and tonic recipe, with an exotic fruity twist. Take the time to infuse the gin, it really is worth the wait! Thanks to @macrohleder for sharing this delicious idea. For a keto-friendly version he recommends using a tonic such as Schweppes Slimline.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Enzed Exotics Kiwano
- 200ml of your favourite gin
- Your favourite tonic water
What to do:
Cut the Kiwano in half and squeeze the pulp from one half into a mason jar. Add 200ml of your favourite gin. Screw on the lid and place in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Add your Kiwano-infused gin and top with tonic in your desired proportions – add ice and a wedge of Kiwano as a garnish.
Kiwano Infused Water
Infusing water with fruits and herbs is a simple way to help drink more water on those hot days. This infused water is also a great way to top up on nutritional goodies – Kiwano pulp is also a good source of dietary fibre which helps maintain bowel health and regularity, while the acidity of lime juice helps to aid digestion. Both fruits contain potassium, which is needed for maintaining a normal water balance in the body.
Ingredients:
- 2 limes, thinly sliced
- 10 mint leaves
- 2 Enzed Exotics Kiwano
- 2 cups of ice
- Water
What to do:
Take one Kiwano, cut in half and squeeze the pulp into a large pitcher. Take the second Kiwano and cut into slices – add to pitcher with the thinly sliced limes. Over the pitcher squeeze and slightly twist the mint (do not tear apart, you only want to gently release the oils). Drop the mint leaves into the pitcher. Top with ice and water. Let the pitcher sit in the fridge for 1 hour before serving. When the water is down to 1/4 full, refill and place back in the fridge. You can do this several times. Store this in the fridge up to 24 hours.
There you have it! We also recommend checking out our Instagram feed for cocktails that other talented mixologists are whipping up with our favourite fruit.
