- 5thearlrosebery
Mimosa - the story behind the drink
As with many popular cocktails, the origin story of the Mimosa is somewhat debated. However, most credit Frank Meier, a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, with creating the cocktail in
1925. The recipe is exceptionally simple, calling for equal parts champagne and orange juice.
The term mimosa is recorded in 1936 in The Artistry of Mixing Drinks by Frank Meier, a bartender sometimes credited with first concocting and naming the drink, which is actually a take on a Buck’s Fizz (also as Mimosas) - and historically called an orange champagne, in Paris since the 1920s. Legendary director Alfred Hitchcock is also said to have popularized the drink as a brunch beverage when he served it to guests at a luncheon as a hair of the dog.
At 5th Earl Rosebery, we use Prosecco instead of Champagne but there is no comprise on the freshly squeezed orange juice.
Why is the drink called a mimosa?
The colour of a mimosa drink is said to resemble the plant's colour, hence the name.
The Mimosa (Acacia dealbata) is a winter flowering species, with silvery leaves and abundant masses of fragrant yellow flowers covering its branches.
The bright yellow flower of this scented plant grows prolifically in southern France in the Var region where the Cote d'Azur and Provence meet. The route du Mimosa is 130km long and runs from Bormes les mimosa to the perfume capital Grasse and you'll see it at its best from January to March.
Did you know that the origin of mimosa can be traced back to Australia?
It is native to south-eastern Australia in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory. It arrived in Europe around 1820, easily adapting to the Mediterranean climate. A particular species of mimosa, the Golden Wattle, was made the official floral emblem of Australia in 1988.
Why was the mimosa invented?
The inspiration
A traditional mimosa is served with equal parts sparkling wine (champagne or Prosecco) and orange juice, whereas a typical Buck's Fizz has twice as much champagne as juice. Despite a variation in quantities, both were created with the same goal in mind: to have an excuse to start drinking before lunchtime.
National Mimosa Day
National Mimosa Day is an unofficial holiday observed on May 16. It celebrates brunch’s favourite adult beverage: the mimosa. Cheers!
See you soon at 5th Earl Rosebery for a fun brunch or lunch!