~~The Passoa Test~~ (Passoa)

Member Name: TigerTiger

Product:	Passoa
Date:	28/03/01 (355 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great summery drink; an aphrodisiac?; versatile

Disadvantages: Difficult to get hold of in the UK; if you don't have a sweet tooth avoid; sticky

I discovered Passoa about 5 years ago when a bar I used to drink in ran out of Malibu. How on earth could they run out of my favourite summer drink I thought, then they suggested I try this new spirit Passoa which came in an interesting black bottle with yellow, orange and red writing and decor on it. They said that if I liked fruity drinks and drinks like Malibu, Archers and Blue Bols that I would probably like this. Always willing to give anything a go I didn't take much persuading. Indeed Passoa is syrupy and a yellowy/ orange colour with a very sweet taste which reminds me of summertime and sitting outside of a bar in the sunset!

Passoa was actually first launched in 1986 by the very people that brought us Cointreau, in Angers in north west France to be specific. Passoa is predominently made of passion fruit which was actually first discovered in the 1500's in South America and this thus accounts for the distinctively latin feel the drink has.

The name Passoa actually stands for a typical latin cocktail which is inspired by the Latin way of life. The drink is widely associated with passion and emotions. Indeed on the Passoa website www.passoa.com they say that Passoa has. "the unique and wonderful power of making passionate emotions happen between people". Hmmmmmm, so am I right in thinking that passoa is indeed an aphrodisiac? Interesting! I actually started to think about writing this opinion a week a go, I typed some intro notes and then when I read that it was an aphrodisiac it got me thinking, how true is this really???? Is this really the drink to get two people passionate? Can it really provide a sensual and energetic Latin atmosphere to any bar or party?

I thought back to the times when I had drank Passoa and nearly all were with my boyfriend and in a romantic setting. Maybe there is something in the claims? So, last weekend I went out on a date with a guy I have liked for ages and decided to buy us both a
Passoa cocktail. Ok, gullible I might be, but hey it is all in the name of research for dooyoo......honest! Anyway, let's just say that it was a very successful evening and I'd like to think it was a little bit more than a drink, but I am sure Passoa only helped :O) My point really is that Passoa is a good drink for romantic occassions and in my experience is a bit too rich to drink all the time on a pub crawl.

Indeed Passoa is drank all over the world, with it being available in over 40 countries. It remains the Number One liqueur in Puerto-Rico, number 2 in the Netherlands, and number 3 in Belgium. It doesn't seem to be as popular in the UK though as elsewhere. When I have been on holiday in places like Spain, Greece and Mexico I saw it in many more bars than here at home in the UK. Often when I am out at home I may fancy a Passoa, however, it just isn't that easy to find. That is one of the greatest limitations to this drink, its lack of availability.

So, when you can get hold of it, what is the best way to drink it? You can of course drink it over ice, although I wouldn't advise this unless you have a sweet tooth and like sickly things. As a longer drink it is actually very versatile and you can have it with lemonade, coke or any fruit juices, pineapple juice is especially delicious. It is also a a great ingredient in any cocktail and just to demonstrate this, below are a few examples:

~~~~~SWEET PASSION~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2/10 Passoa
2/10 Cointreau
6/10 Apple juice
1 drop Amaretto

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass
Garnish : Apple slice

~~~~~EXOTIC PASSION~~~~~~~~~~~

3/10 Passoa
2/10 Vodka
1/10 Fraise des bois (Strawberry liqueur)
1/10 pineapple juice
3/10 grapefruit juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass
Garnish : Split strawberry

~~~~~~PASSIONATE DREAM~~~~~~~~~ <
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3/10 Passoa
2/10 White rum
4/10 Pineapple juice
1/10 Lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass
Garnish : Split pineapple wedge

~~~~~~~~~~PASSOVER~~~~~~~~~~~
3/10 Passoa
2/10 Vodka
6/10 Pink Grapefruit juice
1 drop Blackcurrant cream

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass
Garnish: Orange slice in glas

~~~~~~HYDE AND SEEK~~~~~~~~~

4/10 Passoa
1/10 Coffee liqueur (Tia Maria)
5/10 Milk

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass
Garnish : Orange slice in glass

VERDICT: Now, I don't like coffee, but this is actually quite nice as the sweetness of the Passoa takes the edge off the coffee, a great alcoholic milk shake shall we say! 7/10

~~~~JUNGLE JUICE~~~~~~

Pour in glass full of ice in the following order :
4/10 Passoã
1/10 Galliano
5/10 orange juice

Garnish : split slices of lime and orange on rim

VERDICT:- Jungle juice is actually a real favourite of mine and I would recommend it to anyone. Very drinkable indeed. 8/10

Anyway, I hope this was of use. Passoa the alcoholic love potion? Who knows? However, it certainly is the perfect drink to sit with on a warm evening watching the sun set. Well, a good drink for all us romantics out there anyway.

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