Christmas gatherings, for those who love to drink gin with its mild herby notes and hint of a kick, are all about whipping up the best cocktails, ever. Sure, you can always rely on the classics and whip up some Gin & Tonic, Gimlet, and Gin Fizz. But how about making a difference this Christmas for your gatherings and letting one additional ingredient transform these classics into a wholly new and enjoyable experience for all? The one ingredient we are referring to here is, of course, peppermint. 

To say that gin and peppermint are a match made in heaven wouldn’t be wrong. What they both have in common is that herbaceous complexity that can refresh your soul this Christmas. Meanwhile, the heat of the gin complements the invigorating coolness of peppermint to perfection. Yes, gin-peppermint cocktails are simply perfect for any gathering, and especially so during Christmas when both these ingredients evoke traditional festive spirit so well.  

Ready to explore the world of gin-peppermint cocktails for your Christmas party? Here are some that you should absolutely try.

1. Minty Gin Fizz 

Sparkling, pretty and so delicious, this gin-peppermint cocktail can spark utter joy and festive spirit for your Christmas gatherings. Try it out and you simply won’t regret it.  

Ingredients: 

• 50ml Tanqueray gin 
• 25ml peppermint syrup 
• 25ml fresh lemon juice 
• Soda water 
• Fresh mint leaves, for garnish 

Method: 

• Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour in Tanqueray gin, peppermint syrup, and fresh lemon juice. 
• Top up with soda water and stir gently. 
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves to add to the pepperiness of the drink. 

2. Christmas Peppermint Gimlet 

A twist on the classic gin-based cocktail, this one infuses the pepperiness and refreshing notes of peppermint with the gin to perfection. This Gimlet is an herbaceous, delicious cocktail to savour all through the holiday season. 

Ingredients: 

• 50ml Gordon’s gin 
• 15ml peppermint liqueur 
• 10ml fresh lime juice 
• Crushed ice 
• Lime wedge, for garnish 

Method:   

• Fill a shaker with crushed ice and add Gordon’s gin, peppermint liqueur, and fresh lime juice. 
• Shake well and strain into a chilled glass then serve it up with a garnish of lime wedges. 

3. Peppermint Martini Royale 

Tweaked just the right amount for the holiday season, this gin-peppermint cocktail is simply perfect for your Christmas gatherings with its deliciousness. In fact, it is one of the most lavish cocktails you can whip up with any spirit this Christmas. 

Ingredients: 

• 50ml Tanqueray gin 
• 15ml dry vermouth 
• 10ml peppermint syrup 
• Champagne 
• Peppermint candy, for garnish 

Method: 

• Place the Tanqueray gin, dry vermouth, and peppermint syrup in a mixing glass with ice and stir gently. 
• Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass and top it up with the champagne. 
• Garnish with peppermint candy for an elegant touch and bolstered herby flavors. 

4. Peppermint Julep Sparkler 

Love a traditional Mint Julep? Well, you will also enjoy this one with a peppermint twist. Loaded with minty flavours and more herbaceous that other cocktails, this one is perfect for daytime Christmas gatherings and lunches. 

Ingredients: 

• 50ml Gordon’s gin 
• 15ml peppermint syrup 
• 4-6 fresh peppermint leaves 
• Crushed ice 
• Soda water 
• Fresh peppermint sprig, for garnish 

Method: 

• Muddle fresh peppermint leaves and peppermint syrup in a glass, then add Gordon’s gin. 
• Fill the glass with crushed ice and top it up with soda water. 
• Stir gently and garnish with a fresh peppermint sprig. 

5. Peppermint Sparkler Mocktail 

If you’re the designated driver at your Christmas party and unable to indulge in the flavors of gin-peppermint cocktails, then this one is for you. Try out this festive mocktail and fill yourself up with some holiday cheer! 

Ingredients: 

• 100ml sparkling water 
• 50ml apple juice 
• 15ml peppermint syrup 
• Squeeze of fresh lime juice 
• Ice cubes 
• Fresh cranberries for garnish 
• Sprig of rosemary for garnish 

Method: 

• Fill a glass with ice cubes then pour in the sparkling water and apple juice. 
• Add the peppermint syrup and squeeze in some fresh lime juice. Stir gently. 
• Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary for a festive touch. Serve chilled. 

Dhanteras marks the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. It is about purchasing gold, silver, and new items, and then follows with rituals of selective food items that promise an auspicious future. Indians in the USA can continue their celebrations and their families can remain closer to their roots by trying auspicious foods that will suit their meal, reminding them of festive numbers at home.

Here is a list of food items you can celebrate Dhanteras 2024 with because they are considered to bring good fortune and prosperity.

Image Source: herzindagi.com

Here is a list of food items you can celebrate Dhanteras 2024 USA:

Rice Items

Significance: Rice is considered a sacred one for many in Indian rituals and is used for purity and prosperity. On Dhanteras, dishes like kheer or pulao can be prepared and offered to the gods.
What to Try in the USA : Prepare local ingredients like rice and make these traditional dishes. This could be a saffron-infused rice pudding or a festive vegetable pulao, easy yet luscious in your American kitchen.

Also Read: Dhanteras 2024: Date, Time, and Puja Muhurat for Indians in the USA

Sweets (Mithai)

What it Symbolizes: Indians cannot imagine a festival without sweets. The eve of Dhanteras on one hand signifies offering and then eating sweets to bring joy, prosperity, and good fortune.
What to Try in the USA: Traditional Indian sweets, such as laddus, barfi and jalebis, are always a hit. If you are particularly busy, Indian sweets are available in any local Indian grocery store, or you can try some simple recipes, such as coconut laddus or semolina halwa.

Ghee-containing dishes

Symbolism: Ghee is taken as a symbol of prosperity and richness. You cook special meals for the family and present offerings to the deities.
What to Try in the USA: You can cook dishes such as ghee-laden parathas, puran poli, or even ghee for sweets like besan laddus. The richness of ghee symbolizes wealth and good health for the coming year.

Also Read: Dhanteras 2024 USA: What to Buy for Good Luck and Prosperity

Pomegranate

Symbolism: Pomegranates signify fertility, abundance, and success. The deep red color of the fruit is taken to symbolize riches and good fortune.
What to Try in the USA: Pomegranate is stocked in almost any American grocery store. You may use them as ingredients in making fresh fruit salads, add it to the traditional dishes, or just serve the seeds during your offering.

Dairy Products

Symbolism: Milk is treated like something pure and pure, and diary products like curd and paneer are put to widespread use in the offerings and festival food.
What to Try in the USA: Recipes for paneer curries, milk-based kheer or ras malai can be made to celebrate Dhanteras. Milk sweets are believed to usher good luck and happiness.

Coconut

Symbols: Coconut is considered sacred in the Hindu religion and is offered to the god on auspicious occasions. It represents prosperity, purity, and goodwill.
What to Try in the USA: Fresh coconut or desiccated coconut can be used in recipes such as coconut barfi or nariyal ladoo. One can also offer coconut water during prayers as a gesture of purity.

Ideas for simple dhanteras food ideas for families in the USA

If you are in the USA then you don’t get all the products but still, you can make what is locally available and prepare simple dishes which hold equal importance.

Sweet Rice (Kheer): A simple dish prepared from rice, milk, sugar. Add saffron or cardamom to enhance the flavor.
Besan Laddus: For laddus which are tasty, use ghee and chickpea flour. It would make laddus just for this time.
Fruit Salad: As pomegranates, bananas, and apples are considered lucky fruits, they can be added to an auspicious fruit salad.

Dhanteras 2024 in the United States, and you could still keep nothing out of your mind about back home traditions. Preparing or purchasing these sacred foods would keep you close to Indian roots and would help you celebrate the festival, just the same way and with the same meaning. These are sweets, ghee-based dishes, or fruits symbolically speaking. Good luck and prosperity are sure to be ushered into your family.

Dhanteras Foods FAQs

Dhanteras is popularly known as Dhantrayodashi and it occurs on the very first day of the festival of Diwali, which is the most auspicious day of the Hindu calendar. As per tradition, this day falls during the worship of the God of Health, Lord Dhanvantari, and Goddess Lakshmi goddess of wealth and prosperity. People purchase gold, silver, and other ornaments during Dhanteras so that it can bring them good fortune and prosperity.

As much the Americans celebrate Dhanteras, Indians in USA feel this is equal significance celebrated sitting miles away from their motherland. In 2024, Dhanteras will fall on the date of Monday, October 28th.

Image Source: timesofindia

Dhanteras 2024 Date and Time (USA)

Dhanteras Date: Monday, 28th October 2024
Pradosh Kaal Muhurat in USA: 05:55 PM to 08:32 PM (Time in the USA)
Vrishabha Kaal Muhurat in USA: 06:25 PM to 08:20 PM (Time in the USA)
The two most auspicious times to perform Dhanteras Puja are Pradosh Kaal and Vrishabha Kaal. It is within this time, all the families light diyas and make their prayer and worship before Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi on their wishes.

Also Read: Dhanteras 2024 USA: What to Buy for Good Luck and Prosperity

Dhanteras 2024 Muhurat Time (USA Cities)

For US citizens residing in different cities of the USA, the approximate Dhanteras Puja time according to the local time is as follows:-

• New York: 06:10 PM to 08:40 PM
• San Francisco: 05:50 PM to 08:15 PM
• Chicago: 06:00 PM to 08:25 PM
• Houston: 06:15 PM to 08:35 PM
• Los Angeles: 05:55 PM to 08:20 PM

These are some general estimates. You may refer to the local Hindu temples or calendars for the specific Muhurat in your respective region.

Dhanteras 2024 Puja Muhurat USA: What to Do Today

One of the main things that happens on Dhanteras is that devotees clean their homes and light oil lamps to ward off evil energy. Here’s a quick guide to celebrating Dhanteras:

Cleaning the House: Begin the day by cleaning your house since it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi blesses clean and well-maintained spaces.
Puja Rituals: Construct a Puja place with an idol of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. Light up oil lamps (diyas), prepare flowers, sweets, and rice, and pray to get their blessings.
Buying of Precious Metals: The most customary ritual associated with Dhanteras is that of buying gold, silver, or utensils, as these represent wealth and bring good fortune.
Lighting Diyas: As soon as night falls, light diyas in every room of your house to chase away evil energies and invite prosperity and happiness.

Also Read: Auspicious Foods for Dhanteras 2024 USA: What to Eat for Good Fortune

What to Buy on Dhanteras 2024

Buying gold, silver, or new utensils is also considered extremely inauspicious on Dhanteras. Some of the few things people spend money on during this day are:

Gold or Silver Jewelry: Gold or Silver Investment Sectors that believe it will eventually bring prosperity and good luck.
Utensils: Mostly, people purchase metallic utensils for their kitchen on Dhanteras.
Electronic Gadgets: Today, on Dhanteras, people buy electronic devices or equipment because it symbolizes the start of something new and development.
Vehicles: On Dhanteras, you can also purchase a new car or any other vehicle if you wish to.
Idols of Lakshmi and Ganesha: You can even buy idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha to perform Diwali Puja.
Dhanteras 2024 in the USA is a day when all rituals are performed, prayers are offered, and new buys fill the air. Indians are far from India, but the enthusiastic celebration of the festival is no less in the USA. Be it buying gold performing Dhanteras Puja or lighting diyas to illuminate your abode, it is time for renewal, prosperity, and gaiety with family members.

Follow the auspicious Muhurat times and enjoy a prosperous Diwali season with maximum blessings!

Dhanteras 2024 is celebrated with rituals, prayers, and fun in buying new things in the US. Thousands of miles away from India, Indian communities in the US celebrate this festive day with equal zest and devotion. It’s either buying gold, performing the Dhanteras Puja, or just lighting diyas to illuminate your home, yet the festival calls for renewal, prosperity, and togetherness.

Make sure to get hold of the auspicious Muhurat times so that you can maximize your rewards and enjoy a prosperous Diwali season!