Margarita Salt

Homemade margarita salt is incredibly easy to make, and the flavor options are endless! Not only does salting the rim take your cocktail flavors to the next level, but you can also have fun doing it! 

Why is Margarita salt important?

You’re either one of two people when it comes to your margarita rim, salt or no salt. If you’re not on team salt (it’s ok, we can still be friends…), I’m here to tell you why you should be. The salt actually helps brighten the flavors of the margarita, enhancing the sweet and sour flavors, which makes for an overall tastier experience. 

Homemade Margarita salt vs. store bought?

There’s nothing wrong with buying a store-bought salt (my favorite go-to is Tajin), but the fun part about making your own margarita salt at home is that you get to choose the flavor profiles. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but with salt! It’s so easy and cost-efficient to make, without having to buy a “specialty” salt, and you likely already have the ingredients you need in your spice drawer.  

Margarita Salt Recipe 

There are SO many ways you can margarita salt! Here are some ideas of really tasty ways to salt your margarita:

Classic 

You can’t go wrong with a super classic salting of your rim. I like to use pink Himalayan sea salt.

• 2 tablespoons pink Himalayan sea salt

Citrus Salt 

This citrus salt gives a tangy, citrus flavor and really enhances the fresh flavors. 

• 2 tablespoons pink Himalayan sea salt
• Zest of one lime

Spicy Chili 

If you like Tajin, this is a really great at-home, simple, and clean version. Slightly tangy and the perfect amount of heat. 

• 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt
• 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder

Sweet and Salty

If you like a little sweetness in with your salty, this is the perfect combo for you! The salt helps to enhance the flavors of the margarita, and the sugar is a great counter to the tart and tangy flavors (this is my favorite way to adorn my glass). 

• 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt
• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

Ingredient Modifications

Classic, citrus salt, spicy chili, and sweet and salty are just a few of our favorite ways to salt, but there are endless combos you could try! Here are some ideas to switch things up:

• Use a smoky salt – if you really like a smoky flavor, try using smoky sea salt as the base. 
• Use a combo of citrus – use orange and/or lemon zest in addition to the lime zest (or substitute for the lime altogether!) for an ultra-citrusy salt. 
• Use different spices – this is truly so much fun! Try cardamom or ginger salt with a pomegranate margarita, cinnamon or chili salt with a mango margarita, or rosemary and sage salt with a pineapple margarita. Try these out and see what you love!

Supplies Needed to Make this Recipe

• Saucer or Shallow Bowl

What can I use to salt my rim?

Believe it or not, it matters what you use to salt your rim! You want to use a liquid with some type of sugar in it (natural or added) so that the salt doesn’t just dissolve on contact and has something sticky to, well, stick to! These are all great liquid options:

• Lime wedge/lime juice
• Honey
• Agave Syrup
• Margarita mix

I recommend using honey or agave if you have a heavier salt mixture (coarser salt/sugar, lime zest) and for any designs, like a triangle!

How to salt the rim of a margarita glass?

Now that you know what liquid to use, it’s time to salt the rim! Here’s how to salt your glass:

1. Prep the rim – use a lime wedge to coat the rim of your margarita glass. Pro-tip: you can also use some of the margarita mix to coat your rim, a lot of restaurants do this! Just pour a little into a saucer, turn your glass upside down, and dip the rim in the liquid. 
2. Dip in the salt – add a couple of tablespoons of salt (or salt mixture) to a saucer. Tilt your glass and dip the outside edge of the glass into the salt. Rotate to coat the outside edge, making sure you don’t get too much salt on the inside of the glass that would get into your drink. 
3. Add ice (optional)– if serving your margaritas on the rocks, gently add ice to your glass. The best way to do this is to scoop the ice into the glass so that you don’t knock all the salt off. 
4. Pour – add your favorite margarita mix into your glass. 
5. Serve and enjoy!

You can even have fun with how much of the rim you salt! Here are some ways to change it up from the traditional full, salted rim:

• Salt a partial rim – dip half of your glass in the salting liquid and salt part of the rim if you want salt sometimes, and not other times.
• Make a triangle – if you really want to jazz up your glass, use some agave syrup or honey to create a triangle of “sticking area” on the glass (with the point towards the bottom), then dip in the salt mixture.

What type of salt is the best to use?

Ideally, you would use sea salt (coarse, flaky, pink Himalayan) as opposed to fine table salt. The key is to make sure you don’t get too much salt on the inside of the glass so the salt doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the margarita itself. 

What other cocktails could use margarita salt?

Salted rims pair well with a lot of specialty cocktails. Bloody Mary’s, Salty Dogs, and Sidecars are just a few of many ideas! 

Video

How to store margarita salt?

Store your margarita salt in an airtight container on the counter or in a cool, dry place (where you store your spices). I like these small mason jars. 

How long can I store margarita salt?

In an airtight container, your margarita salt is good for up to 6

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