A fun and tropical passion fruit mojito recipe perfect for summer parties and BBQs! This simple cocktail recipe will be a new summer favorite!
Why you'll love it
These are a sweet and tart cocktail that celebrates my favorite tropical fruit: passion fruit. It requires only a few basic ingredients and a few minutes. This refreshing passion fruit mojito is the best thing on those hot summer days.
All you need to do is grab a handful of ingredients and you can have a bit of summer time any time you want.
Mojitos are my favorite summer cocktail. I love how light and refreshing mojitos are and they lend themselves to experimenting with all sorts of fruit... like this passion fruit mojito, but also something like a mango mojito, blackberry prosecco mojito, and coconut lime mojito shooters.
If you are a fan of passion fruit and in need of another fun cocktail, you'll love the passion fruit margarita.
History of the mojito
The classic mojito typically consists of white rum, fresh lime juice, fresh mint leaves, and soda water. Mojitos have been around for centuries, however, the exact origins are often disputed. It is considered an iconic Cuban drink and a part of its rich history and culture.
We do know that it was around during the 16th century in Cuba, and many believe it was a variation of another cocktail called El Draque which was made with aguardiente (a crude form of rum), sugar, lime, and mint. During the prohibition era in America, many Americans would travel to Cuba to enjoy a tropical libation, it was during this time that the mojito gained popularity among the tourists which further boosted its reputation.
The Bodeguita del Medio is a bar in Havana that is known for their mojito, and have been since the 1940's. It is known to be a popular spot for lovers of this delicious cocktail, including celebrities like Ernest Hemingway.
Where to find passion fruit
While you may not always be able to find the fresh fruit at your local grocery store, they are often available during the summer at produce markets, and you can find passion fruit purée and passion fruit juice in most well-stocked stores.
You can also find passion fruit pulp online that also contains the seeds which are great for the visual appeal.
Picking the best fruit
If you want to know if you have ripe passion fruit, look for some wrinkles. Wrinkles are sexy, especially in your passion fruit. They should be wrinkly, but still have some weight to them.
If they are feeling light or hollow, cut it open and see, because it might be past its prime, but you won't know for sure until you cut. Once it is open, you should be able to tell pretty quickly if it's not good because there really won't be much in the way of pulp.
Ingredient overview
You will need just a few simple ingredients. This is a simple twist from the classic mojito cocktail.
- Rum - Typically, you should use a white or light rum. I recommend using the highest quality you can afford. Because of the overall flavor profile, I strongly recommend against using a dark rum.
- Passion fruit - There are a lot of options for you. I love using fresh passion fruit pulp from the fruit itself, but a passion fruit concentrate or purée will also work.
- Sugar - Typically, I like to use turbinado sugar. You can also use a simple syrup to sweeten the cocktail. I recommend a regular simple syrup using granulated sugar. Avoid brown sugar, if possible.
- Lime - I recommend using fresh lime wedges instead of bottled juice.
- Mint - I love using fresh mint sprigs both in the drink and as a garnish.
You can find the full list and amounts in the recipe card below.
Tools you'll need
You can technically make a great passionfruit mojito at home with no fancy equipment, but if you want to make the absolute perfect cocktail, you may want to consider these tools.
- Glasses - Tall, thin glasses also known as highball glasses have great visual appeal for mojitos, if you prefer something smaller, an old fashioned glass or lowball glass works beautifully.
- Muddler - You need a muddler to muddle the lime and mint for the mojito to extract their flavors. If you don't have one, you can use the handle of a wooden spoon instead.
- Cocktail shaker - A good cocktail shaker helps to ensure you can mix together your ingredients and get them to that perfectly chilled temperature in moments.
Step by step instructions
The exact way you make the mojito is dependent on the form on passion fruit you use. These instructions are based on using fresh passion fruit.
- Push the cut passion fruit through a fine mesh strainer to get the juice and the pulp. Reserve the seeds. Set aside the juice.
- Add the mint and sugar to the cocktail shaker and muddle to release the oils from the mint.
- Add in the, lime, rum, ice cubes and shake well.
- Pour into glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda and passion fruit juice.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and some of the passion fruit seeds, if desired.
How to make a virgin passion fruit mocktail
If you want to make a fun mocktail, it is pretty simple to do! Simply replace the rum and club soda with Sprite or any other similar sparkling soft drink. I do not recommend simply keeping the club soda and adding more because the rum adds much needed sweetness to balance the tart passion fruit. A clear lemon-lime soft drink will help replace that while also adding carbonation.
If you want something a little different, try this passion fruit lemonade! It's sweet and tart with a wonderful tropical zing. The perfect summer sip.
Recipe Card
Passion Fruit Mojito
Ingredients
- 8 fresh passion fruit
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves plus extra for garnish
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 6 ounces light rum
- 6 tablespoons lime juice fresh
- 4 - 5 ice cubes plus more for glass
- Club soda
Instructions
- Cut open the passion fruit and push through a fine mesh strainer to catch all the juice, press hard against the passion fruit to also catch the pulp. Get as much juice and pulp from the passion fruit as possible. Reserve the seeds. Set the juice aside.
- In a cocktail mixer, muddle the mint and the sugar together to help release the oils from the mint. Add the rum, lime juice, and ice, then shake vigorously.
- Add ice to your glass (preferably a high ball, but not required) and divide the mixture among the glasses. Top with a splash or two of club soda and stir in the passion fruit juice/pulp. Top with mint and passion fruit seeds for garnish (can eat passion fruit seeds)
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