Golden Berry Gin And Tonic
Andrea Potischman
Jun 8, 2019
Ever have a golden berry? My guess is it’s unlikely. For those unfamiliar, golden berries are also known as Inca berry, Peruvian ground cherry, poha berry, goldenberry, husk cherry, and cape gooseberry. Golden berries are small, bright, orange-colored fruits closely related to the tomatillo. Like tomatillos, golden berries are wrapped in a papery husk called a calyx that must be removed before eating.
About the size of a grape tomato, these berries have a sweet, tropical taste that’s similar to both a pineapple and a mango. These specialty berries belong to what’s called the nightshade family and grow in warm places around the world. They can be found year-round in some places but their peak season is late Spring to mid-Summer. What’s most remarkable about these little berries is, for their size, they have a rather impressive nutrient profile. In fact, golden berries were recently deemed a superfood, due to their high amount of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. If that’s not enough, golden berries are also extremely high in antioxidants with lots of anti-inflammatory properties.
With their lovely citrus undertones, golden berries seemed like a logical fruit to incorporate into a warm-weather classic cocktail I love, a gin and tonic. The sweet, tropical flavor of the golden berry syrup complements the fresh lime juice and gin perfectly. Great for warm summer nights on the back porch or weekend BBQs with friends, this is an elegant twist on an old classic and one I’m head-over-heel for this season.
Golden Berry Gin And Tonic
Ingredients:
For the Golden Berry Syrup:
- 1/2 cup fresh golden berries leaves removed, cut in half
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
For the Golden Berry Gin And Tonic:
- 2 ounces gin
- 1 ounce golden berry syrup
- Juice of 1 lime
- 3 ounces tonic water
- Lime slice, for garnish
Directions:
- For the Golden Berry Syrup:
- In a small saucepan add the golden berries, water, and sugar. Place over medium flame and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool completely.
- Place the golden berry mixture into a kitchen blender and blend on high for 1 minute until smooth. Strain the golden berry syrup through a fine strainer and allow it to cool.
- For the Cocktail: Place a good amount of ice in a lowball glass and set aside.
- Using a cocktail shaker add a handful of ice, the gin golden berry syrup, and lime juice. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass. Top with tonic water and garnish with a lime slice.
A friend gave me golden berries/I found your G’n’T recipe. Made it, loved it. Lovely NEW flavour. Thnaks.
That is awesome to hear! Thank you for sharing this with me, I love this recipe and I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Be well and stay safe out there.