5 Snacks That Make For A Neat Pairing with a Mai Tai Cocktail

The Mai Tai, which is a classic tiki cocktail, is a stunning mix of orange liquor, orgeat syrup, lime and rum. The drink’s tropical flavour profile and notes make it a favourite for a summertime brunch scene.

Whether you have first-time guests over at your place or are gathering with your best buds, a glass of Mai Tai is sure to win them over instantly.

But to have a complete experience, you need to pair it with the right kind of snacks. From savoury bites to sweet treats, these snacks will elevate the flavours of your Mai Tai.

Coconut Shrimp

Coconut shrimp are the perfect combination to eat with Mai Tai. The naturally sweet coating around the prawns goes perfectly well with the cocktail. The tropical flavours of the shrimp also bolster the rum and citrus undertones of the drink.

In fact, this is also perfect in terms of the optimum mouthfeel since the crunchiness of the shrimp is a good contrast with the silky smoothness of the Mai Tai.

You can pair your snack with a tangy dipping sauce. You could also serve it with a pineapple or mango salsa—both with a dash of lime and some edgy heat.

Pineapple Salsa with Tortilla Chips

Juicy and flavourful, the pineapple salsa is the perfect go-to dip when you have a bag of tortilla chips for the party. Tangy, spicy and sweet all at once, this salsa is the perfect pairing for the chips.

In fact, this combination goes rather well with the Mai Tai. The inherent sweetness of the pineapples undercuts the tartness of the lime slices. The rich rum in the cocktail also gets a little more balanced due to the sourness of the salsa.

The other elements in the salsa should consist of things like lime juice, cilantro, jalapenos, and red onion — all of which are perfectly complementary to the sweetness of pineapples.

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Teriyaki flavours are a perfect match for tropical drinks like the Mai Tai. Teriyaki Chicken Skewers not only have a sweet and punchy profile, but are also a popular choice for snacks.

The Teriyaki glaze adds a touch of caramelised goodness that contrasts with the bold flavours of the Mai Tai.  But before anything else, you need to ensure that you grill the skewers to perfection and serve them with some curd-based dips. To prepare this dip, you can infuse some garlic oil into hung curd and add some freshly crushed parsley herbs into it, with a dash of salt.

You could also present a few fruits with this bunch to add a change in texture and create the perfect mouthfeel.

Plantain Chips

Plantain chips have an exclusive flavour profile. The snack has a natural sweetness and is extremely crunchy. This essentially helps to create the perfect mouthfeel when you are taking the first bite. Taste-wise too, plantain chips showcase a one-note flavour profile that plays into the Mai Tai’s complex culinary notes.

Whether they are plain and salted, or slightly seasoned, plantain chips will surely add a unique touch to your tropical-themed get-together. But taste notwithstanding, these snacks are also an extremely convenient form of snacks that can be easily circulated around instead of a hefty bowl of deep-fried foods.

Pulled Pork Sliders

Pulled pork sliders always manage to create a soft corner in the hearts of your guests and best friends. The flavourful meat and juicy texture make it an ideal item to pack between small buns.

You can drizzle some tangy barbeque sauce on these sliders and they become the perfect snack to pair with the Mai Tai. You should serve these sliders with a side of coleslaw to complete the full culinary satisfaction cycle. Pulled Pork Sliders are also the perfect contrast to Mai Tai’s creamy flavours.