A fair share of a Margarita’s allure comes from its traditional, iconic look: from the shiny, pale green color all the way to the sombrero glass, the Margarita has its own image that can be recognized all over the world. And a lot of this powerful appearance can be attributed to a relatively small detail, that changes it all, really: the rim of salt on the edge of the Margarita glass. Here is how and why to put salt on a Margarita glass.

It might come as a surprise, but more often than not, the simple answer is the right answer: salt is used in a Margarita in the exact way as it is used in food. It’s a flavor enhancer, so just a few crystals of it will help the ingredients of the cocktail to boast all their flavor potential, coming up lively sip after sip. Salt also works perfectly to mellow the bitter notes that can come from the acidity of the lime juice, allowing the Margarita to result as a balanced, smooth and delicious drink.

To put salt on a Margarita glass, first and foremost cut a lime in half and then in quarters (wedges). With the flesh side of a lime wedge, gently rub the rim of your glass, enough for the surface to be aromatized and slightly wet but avoiding for the pulp of the lime to remain on the glass. Then, dip the dampened glass into some salt: this will allow the salt to stick to the lime you previously applied; gently tap on the glass to remove the excess salt and there you have it, a perfectly applied salt rim for your Margarita glass.

What kind of salt for Margaritas? This is a matter of subtle differences, but you will be surprised to find out how big of an impact can a tiny ingredient have on a Margarita. The one, main concept you can be sure of, is that fine table salt should be avoided: it’s too fine, would look quite unappealing on the surface of your glass and you would run the risk of finding it falling into the cocktail, ruining your craft. A good solution would be marine salt, which is solid and grainy, yet probably lacking in the savory zing you are looking for. Ultimately, the best resource would be some flake salt, for your rim to be as clean as possible, but your sip to prove still salty enough to blend all the ingredients together: Maldon salt is the best option (though Kosher salt is still very good).

You might be wondering what to add to your Margarita recipe besides salt. Simple salt can be modified (let’s say it, improved) to provide your Margarita with a completely new look and feel, thus providing you with a totally unprecedented drinking experience. Try adding one or a blend of spices to your salt: za’atar is an intriguing and exotic idea, and so are pepper, turmeric, oregano or cumin. If you feel even more active, try mincing some citrus zest and blending it with salt: lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit all contribute with different nuances, but make sure you remove the white pit before adding them, as it would make your rim too bitter. Finally, let your fantasy run free: have you ever tried roasting some almonds, adding them to salt and then adding a rim to your Margarita glass?