Grapefruit Sangrita With Chipotle and Honey Recipe

Smoke and spice add depth to bitter grapefruit in this complex sangrita, the ideal sipping partner for a good tequila.

By
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Editorial Director

Daniel is the editorial director of Serious Eats, where he leads the site's editorial strategy and oversees everything from recipe development to articles on food science, cooking techniques, and more. He's a former food editor at Food & Wine and has cooked in New York City restaurants.

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Updated March 28, 2025
Closeup of a shot glass of grapefruit sangrita with chipotle and honey, flanked by another shot glass full of silver tequila. A halved grapefruit is in the blurred background.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Tamed by a touch of honey, the mild bitterness of grapefruit juice makes a great match for tequila.
  • Chipotle chile powder adds a pleasant smokiness.

Though the original sangrita, a mix of fruit juices served as an accompaniment to tequila, was made with sour oranges and pomegranate, this one blends bitter grapefruit juice with honey and smoky chipotle chile powder. The combination is deep, complex, and perfect alongside a high-quality silver tequila.

April 2016

Recipe Details

Grapefruit Sangrita With Chipotle and Honey Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 serving
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces (60 ml) fresh juice from 1 red grapefruit

  • 1/2 ounce (15 ml) fresh juice from 1 lime

  • 1/2 ounce (15 ml) honey

  • Pinch chipotle chile powder

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, honey, and chipotle chile powder and stir until honey is thoroughly combined. Season very lightly with salt, then taste and adjust any ingredients as desired. Chill in the refrigerator or by stirring with ice briefly and then straining. Serve in a shot glass alongside a good-quality silver tequila.

Notes

The quantities here are for 1 shot of sangrita; multiply the ingredients to make more servings at once. Fresh fruit juices can vary significantly in terms of flavor, sweetness, and tartness, so don't just follow the recipe blindly: Make sure to taste the sangrita and adjust to get the balance just right.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
93 Calories
0g Fat
25g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 93
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 322mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 28mg 139%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 132mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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