Celebrate the spookiest of holidays with this Mysterious Midnight Mango Margarita. Fresh mango purée, lime, and orange juice shaken with charcoal-infused tequila; this black-as-night cocktail is like the tropics in disguise!
My favorite cocktails are always fruity, light, and not too sweet. Mango Habanero Margaritas, mojitos, and spritzers are on constant rotation through the summer and all year long. Just because the summer beach vibes are gone doesn’t mean you can’t channel that same low-key deliciousness even while spookin it up over Halloween.
A Trick and a Treat!
This Mysterious Midnight Mango Margarita Halloween cocktail is actually a very fruity, tropical beverage disguised in a veil of black by the addition of a tiny bit of activated charcoal powder.
With many claimed benefits from aiding in detoxification, purification, digestion, and hangover prevention, it’s no surprise that activated charcoal is now making it’s way as a big trend in cocktails. Preventing hangovers during happy hour? Yes, please!
Disclaimer: Activated charcoal has many claimed benefits, but as with any supplement, please consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use.
This recipe makes enough Midnight Mango Margarita for two servings, but can easily be quadrupled into a pitcher cocktail. One teaspoon of activated charcoal powder is all it takes to make enough black tequila for a pitcher. Or use a few tablespoons to infuse a whole bottle for an interesting and fun addition to your Halloween bar cart. The charcoal adds color and a bit of texture, but zero flavor. Surprisingly, the inky black color does not leave it’s mark on your teeth or lips.
Midnight Mango Margarita: A Halloween Cocktail
Fresh mangos are so sweet that by making your own easy mango purée, you eliminate the need for extra sweeteners like sugar or agave. Simply scoop and blend the flesh of a couple mangos, squeeze some limes and oranges, and you’re done! All that’s left to do is get your spook on.
The black color is so striking that you can serve simply with a chile salt rim, or get artistic with ghoulish phrases written with white chalk marker, or add an elegant edible bloom like these orange-hued spicy nasturtiums.
For a just-as-fun beverage without alcohol, mix up the mango, lime, and orange with a bit of charcoal powder and top with club soda just before serving.
With so many opportunities to use this fun, new ingredient, I can’t stop dreaming up charcoal-infused food and drink! How will you use charcoal to add some boo to your holiday?
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh mango purée, from 2 mangos
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, from 2 oranges
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal powder
- 1/4 cup Tajin chile seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Slice and scoop the flesh from 1 1/2 mangos and reserve the remaining half mango for garnish.
- In a blender, purée mango.
- In a small jar, add tequila and charcoal powder. Shake until evenly colored.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add mango puree, lime juice, orange juice, and infused tequila.
- Place Tajin on a small plate. Using the squeezed lime, rim glasses with lime juice then dip in Tajin.
- Strain into chile-rimmed glass or a rocks glass filled with ice before serving.
- (Optional) garnish with a skewer of mango chunks or an edible flower.
Notes
Home Chef Tip: Tajin seasoning is a mix of dried chile, salt, and dehydrated lemon juice. You can leave it out or rim your glasses with plain salt, black salt, or a home mix of chile powder and salt.

We hope you enjoy this Mysterious Midnight Mango Margarita recipe from SoFabFood Contributor, Tristin from One Armed Mama, as much as we do. If you love this recipe and you’re looking for more Halloween cocktail recipes, stop by our cocktails section. For daily recipe inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest. Enjoy!
Disclosure: Message intended for our readers 21+ only. Please drink responsibly!
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