Zest Up Your Drink - Tip of the Day

by Monika Bartyzel, Posted Jun 4th 2009 @ 9:00AM

Zest: Not only does it perk up baked goods, it's a heck of a delicious way to perk up your drinks.

It's not uncommon to order a drink and see a nicely twisted piece of zest in the glass -- but pretty as it is, it's not just for show. The simple addition of a little zest will perk up many favorite summer drinks.

In the world of brews, a Hefeweizen matches with a little lemon peel to give an added kick of flavor without a whole lot of lemon juice, while a citrusy witbier can be amped up with an orange peel. A twist of lemon will turn that savory martini into a bright and slightly fruity summer drink, while a lime curl will amp up gimlets and other citri-centric cocktails. If you prefer things a bit more sweet than sour, throw in an orange twist. And if you're feeling particularly wild, take a tip from Nigella and throw a little club soda and orange zest into your rose wine.

This tip isn't only applicable to boozy concoctions. Add a twist to club soda or pop for a wonderfully subtle citrus perk.

Filed Under: Tip of the Day
Tags: citrus, twists, zest