Get a taste of Mexico with this Cantaritos cocktail. Drinking out of clay cups is as much fun as this citrusy drink! Made with grapefruit, orange and lime juice, topped with tequila and grapefruit soda – Salud!
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Cantaritos in Mexico
This cocktail is a popular cocktail in Mexico, made with fresh citrus juice, grapefruit flavored soda, and tequila. This Cantaritos recipe, full of juicy grapefruit flavor, is a delicious alternative to a Paloma!
Cantaritos is actually the name of the clay cup and you’ll see them in most traditional restaurants and bars throughout Mexico. Some places even have huge cantarito cups. They make a humongous drink and the process of making it is part of the show. Sounds like so much fun!
I love that this cocktail perfectly sweet + tart, nobody likes an overly sweet cocktail right? This one has a bit of sweetness from soda and tartness from the citrus. The bubbly from the soda also adds a nice bite and fizz.
It’s also perfect for entertaining: When you are hosting a fiesta you want simple recipes that are also fun. This recipe is perfect for any gathering for those reasons.
🩷 xoxo, Ana
**This post was originally published on March 2022. It has been updated to be more helpful.
The Cantaritos Clay Cups
One of the reasons for drinking out of clay cup is the delicious flavor it gives to whatever you’re drinking. It adds a mild earthy flavor that tastes very organic. Delish!
If you can’t find cantaritos near you (sold at most latin stores) or online, it’s okay to enjoy this drink in a regular cocktail glass. But if you do use cantaritos, then you may need to follow the steps below to cure them and ensure your cocktail is a success!
How to cure unglazed clay cups
- Rinse with warm water (no soap!). If you use soap, it’ll infuse into the clay.
- Place in a large pot or container and fill with cold water until the cups are covered all the way to the top.
- Soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- When you’re done with your drink, rinse with water only.
Important!!
Follow these steps each time you use them for a drink. This saturates the clay with water prior to adding your drink. It helps stop your cup from absorbing your cocktail and “sweating” it.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Tequila – Blanco or Silver tequila works well here.
- The Juice – Make a juice blend of fresh orange, grapefruit and lime juice.
- Soda – Use a grapefruit flavor like Jarritos or Squirt
- For fun, you can add chamoy and chili lime powder to the rim of the cups
** Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
How to Make a Cantaritos Cocktail
- Squeeze the fresh grapefruit, orange and lime juice into a cup.
- Fill one cantarito with crushed ice.
- Add a shot of tequila, then add half of the fresh juice mix, then top with grapefruit soda. Mix well to incorporate all the flavors together.
- Sprinkle some chili lime powder if you want and garnish with fresh citrus slices.
- Repeat for the second drink.
Variations
What’s the Best Tequila?
I recommend blanco (silver) tequila for Mexican cocktails. It’s light, fresh, and easy to drink. No need to waste your best tequila bottle here!
Why? The citrus flavor will overpower any delicate finesse to the flavor of a higher-end tequila. Blancos are more agave-forward in flavor and work beautifully for cocktails like this classic Cantarito!
More Mexican Cocktails Recipes
I hope you like this recipe! Share it, or leave a rating and comment below. For questions that need an answer right away, please contact me and I’ll get back to you asap. Gracias!!!! xx, Ana
Print Recipe:
Cantaritos Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ounces tequila or mezcal
- Crushed or cubed ice
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice (about 1 orange)
- ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice (½ large grapefruit)
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- Squirt soda
- Chamoy - optional for the cup's rim
- Chili lime seasoning - optional for the cup's rim
- Lime or orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- Squeeze the fresh grapefruit, orange and lime juice into a mixing cup.
- Fill one cantarito with crushed ice.
- Add a shot of tequila, then add half of the fresh juice mix.
- Lastly top with grapefruit soda next. Mix well to incorporate all flavors together.
- Sprinkle some chili lime powder if you want and garnish with a fresh citrus slices.
- Repeat process for the second drink.
Notes
Cure the unglazed clay cups before your drinks time
- Rinse with warm water (no soap!).
- Place in a large pot or container and fill with cold water until the cups are covered all the way to the top.
- Soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- When you’re done with your drink, rinse with water only.
Great recipe. Confused by the k next to calories. When I look it up it says kcal is equal to 1000 calories. I’m sure there isn’t 155,000 calories. ?? I’m not sure why the k is there or what it means. Several recipes for Cantarito have it listed with kcal and 150kcal to 190kcal. Thanks.
Just delicious! We are making the Cantaritos with Las Mezclas, natural fruit cocktails made with real Mezcal Espadin adding a bit of Topo chico!
“Cantaritos Cocktail is a popular cocktail in Mexico. It is a traditional drink that consists of tequila, lime, and orange juice.
This is a must try cocktail. Thank you for sharing the article.”
Delicious Cantaritos drink! ? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tequila with grapefruit and orange juice? Sounds amazing. I’m saving this for summer.
What a fun cocktail, but I really want to get those clay cups! I’m ordering some right now!
loved this cocktail, so refreshing! I make it with mezcal and turned out delicious!
very refreshing delicious and easy to make will make it again soon!
I had this drink once when I was in Cuernavaca and loved it, I think they also added lime sherbet. I can’t wait to try it! thank you
This Cantaritos recipe is perfect for citrus season! It had the perfect amount of juice. Thanks!