Brazilian Caipirinhas and Recipe

The tangy Caipirinha (ky -peer-een-yah) cocktail used to be one of Brazil’s best kept secrets.  This national cocktail of Brazil has now become popular in Europe, United States and many Latin Countries.   It is traditionally made with Cachaça (ka sha sa) which is mostly produced in Brazil.  Cachaça is a cousin to rum but is made from fresh sugarcane juice unlike rum which is made from molasses.   Cachaça also known as “pinga or aguardente” is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil and the alcohol by volume is normally around 40%.

The most popular Caipirinha in Brazil is the classic one which is made with fresh lime, sugar, cachaça and ice.  There are other variations made with different fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, raspberries, watermelon, mango, passion fruit or tangerines.  Another version of a caipirinha is made with vodka instead of cachaça which is called a caipiroshka.

The following recipe is for one drink but you can also make a pitcher for several drinks.  Just calculate how many you want to make and make it in a pitcher and don’t add the ice until ready to serve it.  You can substitute sweetener for the sugar in these recipes.

Classic Caipirinha Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 lime

2 ounces of cachaça (can substitute with vodka or rum)

1-2 Tablespoons of sugar

Ice

Directions:

1. Wash the limes then roll them on the counter applying pressure to loosen the juice
2. Cut lime in slices
3. Put wedges into a glass or container.  Use a muddler or wooden spoon to crush together the limes and sugar to release the lime’s juice.
4. Pack the glass with crushed ice and pour in the cachaça.
5. Stir well and garnish with more lime slices.

Here is a T Shirt from Brazil with a Caipirinha Recipe on it!

 

 

 

 

 

Recipes for Other Versions of Caipirinhas:

Raspberry:

• 2 oz of Cachaça (vodka or rum)
• 6 raspberries
• ¼ lime
• 2 Tsp of sugar
• Muddle the lime, raspberries and sugar in a shaker.  Add cachaça and share.  Serve in a glass with ice.  Garnish with a raspberry.

Mixed Berry

• 2 oz. cachaça (vodka or rum)
• 6-8 mixed berries
• ¼ lime
• 1 tsp sugar
• Muddle the lime, berries and sugar in a shaker. Add cachaça and shake vigorously.  Serve in glass with ice. Garnish berries.

 

 

 

 

 

Pineapple Mint

• 2 oz. cachaça (vodka or rum)
• 4 chunks of pineapple
• 2 mint leaves
• 1 tsp of sugar
• Muddle the pineapple, mint and sugar in a shaker.  Add cachaça and shake vigorously.  Serve in a glass with ice.  Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

Passion Fruit Pineapple

• 2 oz. cachaça (vodka or rum)
• ¾ oz of Passion Fruit puree
• 2-3 Tbs sugar
• ½ lime
• 6-8 mint leaves
• 2 chunks of pineapple
• 1 oz of Sprite
• Muddle limes, mint and pineapple.  Add passion fruit puree, sugar and cachaça.  Shake well and serve in glass with ice.

 

 

 

 

 

While you are visiting Brazil be sure and pick up a Caipirinha Set, they make great gifts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brought to you by: World Cup Brazil 2014