Disney’s African Margarita Recipe from Animal Kingdom
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Experience the Magic at home with Disney’s African Margarita Recipe!
Transport your taste buds to the adventurous landscapes of Africa with this copycat Disney margarita found in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Infused with the zesty allure of tangerine liqueur, this cocktail promises a magical journey of flavors right from the comfort of your own home!
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While you may prefer to skip to the recipe card, we suggest reading the entire blog post to avoid missing valuable tips and substitution suggestions and to ensure you have the necessary ingredients, equipment, and understanding of the steps and timings.
Disney’s African Margarita Recipe
Whether you are a fan of Disney cocktails or a margarita lover, you will love trying out this drink.
It is often hailed as one of the most popular on Disney property, and if you’ve drunk it while visiting Animal Kingdom, you will know why!
We are HUGE fans of Disney and have several Disney-inspired cocktails on The Purple Pumpkin Blog for you to try, including:
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Gullywhumper Cocktail Copycat Recipe
- Disney Epcot-Inspired Mediterranean Journey Cocktail with Cointreau
- Disney-Inspired Mint Julep Cocktail for Sipping in the Sunshine!
- Disney Epcot Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey Spiked Frozen Coke
- Disney-Inspired Polynesian Village Cocktail with Rum and Tropical Juice!
- Captain Jack Sparrow Rum Cocktail with Rum & Blue Curaçao
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Coruscant Cooler (Copycat Cocktail)
- Disney’s Jungle Cruise Cocktail with Rum, Tequila, and Fruit Juices
African Margarita
The African Margarita is one of those unique margarita recipes that will have your taste buds singing…
Instead of the triple sec that goes into a traditional margarita, the African Margarita uses Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur.
This citrus liqueur hails from the Cape Winelands of South Africa and is a blend of five-year-old Posthill brandy, tangerine peel, herbs, and spices and sweetened with sugar cane syrup.
You should be able to find Van der Hum in liquor stores and grocery stores, but if you can’t, you can always buy it online.
An alternate option is to use Grand Marnier, which is a French liqueur made with a blend of Cognac and orange distillate. It has a sweet and slightly bitter taste with hints of oak and spice.
Failing those two options, you can use the standard triple sec – but the flavor profile of your African Margarita won’t be quite the same.
The specific tequila that Disney uses in this margarita is Corazon Blanco Tequila, so for a true copycat of the drink, try to use this as well as the Van der Hum liqueur in your mix. (But any Blanco Tequila will work!)
The combination of tangerine liqueur, tequila, sweet and sour mix, and simple syrup is perfect if you prefer a less sour margarita.
Pair it with some tasty appetizers, such as our Crispy Lemon Panko Fried Shrimp Recipe, Homemade Guacamole with chips, Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings.
Or set up a Margarita Board with snacks for a wonderful, interactive cocktail party experience!
Animal Kingdom Margarita
This tangerine margarita can be found in the Dawa Bar in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
You’ll find the Dawa Bar in the heart of Harambe Village, just by Tusker House Restaurant, and it’s a bit of a hidden gem.
The African Margarita is one of several specialty cocktails you’ll find at the bar, and now you can recreate it at home with this recipe!
Imagine sipping this at a Disney-themed party, a summer barbecue, or even during a cozy movie night.
There’s no wrong time to savor the exotic delight that is Disney’s African Margarita…
It’s an enchanting concoction sure to impress your guests and transport you to Animal Kingdom one sip at a time!
Reasons Why You’ll Love Disney’s African Margaritas
- It’s a unique twist on the classic Margarita, offering a fresh flavor profile.
- It adds an exotic and adventurous touch to any gathering.
- It’s a fun and delicious way to bring some Disney magic home.
Ingredients & Equipment For Disney’s African Margarita Recipe
The ingredients and tools in this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers like Amazon or Amazon Fresh.
Disney’s African Margarita Ingredients
- Blanco Tequila – Disney uses Corazon Blanco Tequila in their African Margarita, but you can use your preferred brand.
- Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur – This is what gives the margarita its signature flavor. If you can’t find this, substitute with Grand Marnier. And if you can’t find that, Triple Sec or Cointreau are fine to use, but they won’t give quite the same flavor profile.
- Sweet and Sour Mix – You can buy this ready-made, but it’s very easy to make your own Homemade Sour Mix if you can’t find it.
- Simple Syrup – You can buy this ready-made, but it is easy to make yourself.
- To make simple syrup, place equal measures of sugar and water in a pan and stir over medium heat.
- By the time it simmers, the sugar is dissolved, and that’s it!
- When the syrup has cooled, use it in cocktails as required.
- Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.
- Fresh Lime Juice
- For Garnish – Tangerine, Orange, and/or Lime Slices, Pineapple Wedges, Maraschino Cherries
- Margarita Salt – sea salt or sugar crystals for glass rims.
Cocktail Equipment
- This cocktail is shaken, but don’t worry if you don’t have a cocktail shaker!
- Use a container with a tight-fitting lid—like a mason jar or the cup on a blender or smoothie maker.
- Margarita Glasses – or any kind of cocktail glasses you have.
- Rimming Dish – or saucers for rimming the glasses with salt.
- Cocktail Skewers – for skewering cherries and other cocktail fruit garnish.
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What Can I Serve With Disney’s African Margaritas?
- African Peanut Stew: A hearty dish that pairs perfectly with the cocktail’s bright flavors.
- Moroccan Lamb Salad: The cocktail’s citrusy notes complement the salad’s spices.
- Jamaican Beef Patties Recipe with Fried Plantain Chips: The spicy notes compliment the cocktail’s tropical vibe.
More Margaritas To Make
If you enjoy margs, you’re going to love our Unique Margarita Recipes
Disney’s African Margarita Variations
Here are some variations of the original cocktail recipe you might like to try.
- Add a small amount of chili powder to the salt rim for a spicy version.
- Swap the tangerine liqueur with pineapple liqueur for a different fruit twist.
Virgin African Margarita Mocktail (Non-Alcoholic)
So that non-drinkers can enjoy this drink, we simply remove the alcohol and replace it!
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed below instead of the alcoholic ones.
- Replace the Tequila with lemon-lime soda
- Replace the Tangerine Liqueur with tangerine or orange juice or syrup
I recommend adding the syrups to your taste as they may add the sweetness you may not necessarily get from alcoholic liqueurs.
African Mockarita with Non-Alcoholic Spirits
For adults who would still like to enjoy the taste of alcohol in their mocktail, you could try non-alcoholic alternatives.
In the UK, try Lyre’s, which is also available on Amazon in the UK and Amazon.com.
Other brands include Strykk (UK) and Ritual (US & Canada). Non-alcoholic spirits are a growing trend, so be on the lookout in your local stores and online.
- Instead of Tequila, use Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit.
- Instead of Van der Hum, use Lyre’s Orange Sec.
Follow the recipe card using the non-alcoholic alternatives listed above instead of the alcoholic ones.
Frozen African Margarita
Want to turn this tangerine cocktail into a frozen slushie? Here’s how!
Put all the ingredients in a blender with a generous amount of ice – then blend till smooth.
Serve with a straw, and watch out for brain freeze!
You can do the same with the mocktail version too.
Big Batch of Disney’s African Margaritas
Want to make a big batch of tangerine-flavored margarita cocktails for a party or gathering? It’s easy – here’s how!
If you use the same measuring container (glass, cup, jug, etc.) for the “1 part”, the ratios will be correct, and you can make as much as you need to.
To make African Tangerine Margaritas for a crowd, mix together:
- 4 parts Corazon Blanco Tequila
- 2 parts Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur
- 4 parts Sweet and Sour Mix
- 2 parts Simple syrup
- 2 parts Lime Juice
Serve the large batch cocktail in drinks dispensers or pitchers, or go retro and serve from a punch bowl!
Add plenty of ice to your serving container to keep the cocktail chilled. You can add slices of tangerine, orange, or lime slices, too, if desired.
Saving Leftovers!
While it’s best to enjoy the cocktail fresh to savor its flavors, you may have some left at the end of your party—don’t let it go to waste!
- Strain and transfer the cocktail to an airtight pitcher or container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
- Or, to make it last longer, turn it into African Margarita Granita!
- Granita is a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and various flavorings. Originally from Sicily.
- Transfer the cocktail to a shallow freezer-safe container and place it in the freezer for 6 hours (or overnight). You can add some simple syrup or another sweetener if desired.
- Use a fork to break the frozen cocktail into small pieces. Serve and enjoy!
- Or pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.
- Use the cocktail cubes to chill and flavor future cocktails without diluting the drink.
Setting Up Your Cocktail Bar
When setting up your cocktail bar or serving area, you could include the following:
- Ice Bucket – Filled with ice (of course!). Don’t forget a scoop or tongs.
- Cocktail Glasses
- Cocktail Napkins
- Cocktail Stirrers/Swizzle Sticks
- Cocktail Sticks/Picks – Skewer fruit onto cocktail picks for guests to garnish their drinks.
- Cocktail Decorations – Such as umbrellas, straws, etc.
This cocktail recipe is intended for adults of the legal drinking age in your country of residence.
Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive.
How Do I Make Disney’s African Margaritas?
Below is the printable recipe card. To save ink, any demonstration photos on the recipe card are not printed out.
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Disney's African Margaritas
Feel the magic of Disney with Disney's African Margarita recipe. Ideal for special occasions!
Ingredients
For Glass Rim
- Lime Wedge
- Coarse Sea Salt
For the Margarita
- 4 oz Corazon Blanco Tequila
- 2 oz Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur
- 4 oz Sweet and Sour Mix
- 2 oz Simple syrup
- 2 oz Lime Juice
For Garnish
- Maraschino Cherries
- Tangerine Slices
- Pineapple Wedges
- Lime Slices
Instructions
- To add a salt rim to the glasses, pour some salt onto a plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of two glasses. Dip the glass rim into the salt and twist. Fill glasses with ice and set them aside.
- Place the Tequila, Van der Hum Tangerine Liqueur, sweet and sour mix, simple syrup, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well for 15-30 seconds to combine.
- Pour into the prepared glasses.
- Garnish as desired with a maraschino cherry, tangerine slice, pineapple wedge, and/or lime slice. Cheers!
Dinner Party Menu Suggestions!
The beverage is covered, but what about the rest of the courses?
Here are additional recipes to create a menu for a dinner party or special meal:
- Appetizer: Pineapple and Shrimp Stuffed Avocados
- Soup: Vichyssoise
- Salad: Caprese Pasta Salad
- Main Dish: Mediterranean Pork Chops
- Side Dish: Roasted Eggplant with Tahini Dressing
- Dessert: Grilled Fruit and Pound Cake Skewers