Le Ti' punch

Ti' punch: the preparation that gives all its flavor to the West Indian identity

To begin our world tour of cocktails made with rum, we bring you all the secrets of Ti' punch, an emblematic preparation of the French Antilles which brings sunshine and the magic of the islands into our glass.

A whole ritual for its preparation

With only lime, white rum and sugar, you might think that preparing Ti' punch is very simple. But because it is a traditional drink, certain gestures must be respected.

For a glass of Ti' punch, you will need:

• a wedge of lime, and more specifically lime, a variety that is not very juicy, but has a very strong aroma.
• a teaspoon of granulated sugar (cane sugar, not beet sugar, of course). You can replace the sugar with cane syrup, which is more aromatic because it is less refined.
• 5 to 6 cl of AOC white agricultural rum

In a small glass, squeeze the lemon wedge before dropping it into the glass. This squeeze-release gesture is preferable to the pestle if you want to conform to West Indian traditions. Then add the sugar or cane syrup before mixing delicately. To facilitate mixing with the sugar, a few drops of water are generally added. When the mixture is well blended, finally add the white rum. A Ti' punch in its glass should be the height of a finger.

How to make a good Ti' punch

To make a good Ti' punch, the agricultural rum must be at least 50°, but rums at 55° like Neisson in its Zépol'Karé or Depaz blanc 55° are to be preferred. Don't forget the Ti' craze that will accompany the Ti' punch. It is a simple glass of fresh water that accompanies the cocktail. Because the Ti' punch is not drunk with ice cubes.

The foot-cracker

Did you know that Ti' punch is also called "pété-pied"? The reason is simple. After a few Ti' punches, your gait becomes hesitant. We can't advise you enough to drink in moderation.

Present at all parties and family gatherings, the Ti' punch is admired before being drunk in one go. If you master the art of preparation well enough, you may be able to claim to be one of the Knights of the Order of Ti' Punch.

 

Olivier, from the Rhum Attitude team