This starfruit infused tequila recipe is a perfect way to enjoy the unique and tropical flavor of starfruit in any tequila cocktail of your choice! It’s made by infusing tequila with REAL starfruits, and the best part is, most of the time it takes to make is hands off!
With over 10 years of experience of making homemade cocktails, I’ve learned the magic of liquor infusions. Think starfruit margaritas and starfruit ranch water, and you’re up to speed. Sweeten it up with another layer of starfruit flavor using starfruit simple syrup, or spike a homemade starfruit soda pop!
💕 why you’ll love this starfruit infused tequila recipe
🤯 unexpected. Starfruit is a stunning and delicious tropical fruit, but some people aren’t confident in how to use or serve it, aside from a garnish. This infusion is a great way to try a fruit that might be new to you!
🙌 simple technique. Making this fresh fruit infusion is oh-so simple, and the majority of the time it takes to make the recipe is hands off!
🎛️ versatile. You can replace the tequila in nearly any cocktail with this infusion, it’s even great enjoyed on the rocks!
🛒 ingredients
- starfruit – you’ll need about 2 medium-sized starfruit for this recipe. This fruit is sometimes called carambola. Choose fruits that are deeper yellow or browned in flavor as they will be less sour than green or light yellow fruits. You can also let them ripen after you purchase them until they deepen in color.
- blanco tequila – Silver tequila, or blanco tequila, has a much more versatile flavor profile than gold or aged tequilas, also called reposado or anejo. Since we want the main flavor of the tequila to be starfruit forward, silver works best for this! Choose a 100% agave tequila for the best quality. Learn more about the different kinds of tequila here in this post!
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
1: Wash and dry your starfruit to remove any dirt or impurities.
2: Slice your starfruit and remove the seeds.
3: Place the starfruit in a jar.
4: Pour the tequila overtop of the fruit.
5: Seal the jar and allow the mix to infuse in a cool dark place for 3 – 5 days, tasting the tequila each day to see if you like the intensity of the flavor.
6: Once the mix is finished infusing, strain the starfruit out of the tequila using a find mesh sieve.
7: Using a muddler, gently crush the fruits to express more juice and tequila.
8: Bottle your finished infusion and store it in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Hint: Take the time to remove the seeds from the fruit so they don’t impact the final flavor of your infusion. I’ve found that sometimes, seeds can give infusions a bitter or earthy taste that conflicts with the fruity flavor.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
How and when to serve your :
- starfruit margaritas – The quintessential tequila cocktail is a margarita, without question! This tropical infusion makes a wonderful margarita that your friends and family will love!
- starfruit ranch water – One of the easiest tequila cocktails to make is ranch water, and this infusion is perfect for it!
- spiked starfruit soda – This homemade starfruit soda is perfect for adding this tequila to!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
For years, I thought longer infusions = better infusions, but that’s not the case. In fact, the longer you let something infuse, the more likely it will be too intensely flavored. Read more about how to make the perfect liquor infusions!
- infusion time – Make sure to taste your tequila as it ages through the infusion process.Stick to around 3- 5 days for the perfect flavored tequila, but you can push it up to a week.
- spoiling – If you aren’t using your tequila infusion right away, store it in the fridge to keep it from spoiling. Yes, the alcohol does preserve it to some degree, but because we are dealing with produce, which can spoil, it’s better for longer-term storage to refrigerate it. It’s okay if you forget it on the counter at room temperature for a couple of days, but keep it out of warm, sunny places.
⚖️ scaling tips
The best thing about infusing liquors is that you can infuse as much or as little as you like. This makes it the perfect way to try new flavors! You can infuse 4 ounces, 8 ounces, or 24 ounces!
- To scale this recipe, use 1 starfruit per cup of liquor. So if you do half a cup of tequila, use half a fruit.
♻️ substitutions & variations
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- swap the liquor – you can swap out the tequila for another liquor, like clear rum, plain vodka, or even a light gin!
- make a liqueur – create a starfruit liqueur, similar to making a homemade limoncello!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- large glass jar – Large glass jars are the best way to infuse liquor! I love using large Weck jars or Ball Canning jars because they have a wide mouth and are easy to get the starfruit in and out of. You can use two smaller jars, or cut the recipe in half if you don’t have a large enough container. I’ve even used a zip-top bag in a pinch. 😛
- muddler – A muddler will help you extract the most flavor from your starfruit! I love using my muddler from OXO because it’s easy to hold, cleans up well in the dishwasher, and is made of stainless steel and nylon so it doesn’t absorb any flavors or colors from recipes.
- fine mesh strainer – a sieve is key for separating the starfruit out of the finished tequila. You can also use cheesecloth if you want to ensure that no sediment remains in the final infusion. I usually just one of the mesh sieves from this stainless steel strainer set.
- glass measuring cup – a large glass measuring cup (at least a 4 cup capacity) allows you to easily strain your finished infusion. I love this set by Anchor Hocking because it includes a 1-cup, 2-cup, and 4-cup glass.
- knife and cutting board – you’ll need a knife and cutting board for slicing the fruit and removing the seeds.
🫙 storage tips
Your finished infusion will last for up to 6 months when properly stored in the refrigerator. Store your finished infusions in an airtight glass bottle, like these from Bormioli Rocco.
You can also store the finished infusion in the same bottle the tequila originally came in. That way, you don’t have to buy anything new!
💬 q+a
Do you need to refrigerate infused liquor?
The general rule of thumb is if you are using ingredients to infuse liquor that are not shelf-stable, you should refrigerate it. This means any liquor infusing fresh ingredients or produce, like starfruit, should be stored in the fridge to keep it from spoiling.
How long should I infuse liquor for?
While you might be tempted to think that longer = better with infusions, that’s not always the case. Sure, for things like homemade vanilla extract, time can be your friend. But when you are infusing liquor to be used in cocktails, you want to stick to a week maximum before flavors get funky.
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Starfruit Infused Tequila
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Equipment
- 1 large jar
- 1 measuring glass
- 1 fine mesh sieve
- 1 muddler
Ingredients
- 180 g starfruit 2 medium sized fruit, about 1 cup sliced
- 16 ounces blanco tequila 100% agave tequila, 2 cups
Instructions
- Wash and dry your starfruit to remove any dirt or impurities.
- Slice your starfruit and remove the seeds.
- Place the starfruit in a jar.
- Pour the tequila overtop of the fruit.
- Seal the jar and allow the mix to infuse in a cool dark place for 3 – 5 days, tasting the tequila each day to see if you like the intensity of the flavor.
- Once the mix is finished infusing, strain the starfruit out of the tequila using a find mesh sieve.
- Using a muddler, gently crush the fruits to express more juice and tequila.
- Bottle your finished infusion and store it in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
