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    Home > Brazilian Recipes

    Published: Aug 5, 2019 · Modified: Apr 29, 2021 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 12 Comments

    How to Make the Best Caipirinha Cocktail


    Jump to Recipe ↓

    Caipirinha drink is a famous thirst quenching cocktail made of lime, sugar, ice, and a rum-like spirit, cachaça. It's the naughty Brazil's national cocktail... cheers to that!

    a glass of Caipirinha with lime wedges

    Just as Mexico with its Margarita and Cuba with its Mojito, Brazil also has a national cocktail drink: Caipirinha!

    WHAT'S THIS COCKTAIL MADE OF? 

    Caipirinha drink is made of mashed lime and sugar, ice, and a shot of cachaça.

    Just like white rum, cachaça is a sugarcane-derived product, but it has a stronger flavor and aroma because its distillation process retains more impurities.

    WHAT DOES 'CAIPIRINHA' MEAN?

    Caipirinha is the diminutive of caipira, which means "hillbilly". But the cocktail is most referred to ‘little countryside drink’ rather than the class of person.

    In fact, its origin is still not certain yet related to cachaça.

    HAND REACHING A GLASS OF CAIPIRINHA DRINK

    HOW TO MAKE CAIPIRINHA DRINK

    To make this caipirinha recipe, first add lime and sugar into a small glass.

    Then, mash them together using a pastle, muddler or a wooden spoon. Lastly, fill the glass with ice and add the cachaça.

    DISHES THAT PAIR WELL WITH THIS DRINK

    One thing I know, caipirinha drink is perfect to accompany feijoada (black bean and pork stew)– Brazil’s national dish.

    Moreover, cod cakes (bolinho de bacalhau), churrasco (Brazilian barbeque), picanha (top sirloin cap), grilled pork chops and other meats like these barbecue pork ribs.

    Caipirinha is such a big thing in Brazil that it is widely available in restaurants, bars, and many households… As well as its variations!

    CAIPIRINHA VARIATIONS

    Oh, yeah! There are many variations of this drink as follows:

    • Caipifruta – made of cachaça, crushed fresh fruits, sugar, and crushed ice. The usual fruits used are kiwi, passion fruit, lemon, grapes, mango, cajá, cashew fruit, açaí, and strawberry caipirinha.
    • Caipisake – it takes sake instead of cachaça. Berries or kiwi are the most used.
    • Caipiroska or Caipivodka – made with vodka instead of cachaça.
    • Caipiríssima – prepared with rum instead of cachaça.
    • Caipirão – made using a liqueur from Portugal, Licor Beirão, instead of cachaça.
    • CaipirItaly – Campari, from Italy, subs cachaça.
    • Caipinheger – made using Steinhager.

    Because I do not drink, mine is made with crushed fruit(s), sugar substitute, crushed ice, and sparkling water. It is the light and virgin version of the drink.

    CAN I MAKE CAIPIRINHA COCKTAIL WITH RUM OR VODKA?

    If you don't find cachaça, use vodka or white rum. All 3 has a similar ABV .

    WHAT TYPE OF SUGAR ?

    The traditional caipirinha recipe takes white sugar but you can use almost any sugar substitute. 

    CAN YOU MAKE IT WITH OTHER FRUITS?

    Yes, you can replace lime for almost any fruit.

    OTHER DRINK RECIPES:

    • Peach rosemary Michelada
    • Frozen Pineapple Mint Margarita
    • Creamy Pineapple Coconut Cocktail (Batiada de Abacaxi com Coco)
    • Cranberry Passion fruit Cocktail
    • Pomegranate Caipirinha

    CLOSE UP IMAGE OF CAIPIRINHA IN A GLASS WITH ICE AND LIME

     

    a glass of Caipirinha with lime wedges
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    5 from 3 votes

    Caipirinha Drink Recipe

    Caipirinha drink is a famous thirst quenching cocktail made of lime, sugar, ice, and a rum-like spirit, cachaça. It's the naughty Brazil's national drink... cheers to that!

    Course:Drinks
    Cuisine:Brazilian
    Keywords:caipirinha, caipirinha cocktail, caipirinha drink, caiprinha recipe, cocktail recipe, drink recipe, how to make caipirinha
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 1
    Calories170 kcal
    Author Denise Browning
    Cost $ 0.50

    Equipment

    • muddler

    Ingredients

    • 1 lime cut into 4 wedges
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (or brown if desired)
    • ice cubes
    • 3 tablespoons cachaça

    Instructions

    • Place lime and sugar into a small glass. Mash the two ingredients together using a pastle, muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill the glass with ice and add the cachaça.

    Recipe Notes

    A wide variety of fresh fruits can be used in place of lime. In the absence of cachaça, vodka can be used, making a caipiroska.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

    ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

    Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Filed Under: 5 Ingredients or Less, Brazilian Recipes, Easy Drink Recipes, Quick & Easy Recipes Tagged With: Lime

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Adam says

      October 29, 2012 at 4:08 pm

      The colors in this photo are gorgeous. I have never heard of this drink but I am going to have to try it very soon.

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        October 29, 2012 at 7:49 pm

        Thanks a lot, Adam! I hope you enjoy it. In Brazil, this drink is made with several different types of fruits but the tangerine one is the most popular... Other popular flavors are passion fruit, kiwi, pineapple, lemon, grapes, mango,and açaí.
        Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    2. Jerald Havener says

      July 19, 2013 at 7:43 am

      This is awesome!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        July 19, 2013 at 10:11 am

        Thanks, Jerald! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Kathleen says

      June 10, 2014 at 8:46 am

      Hi Denise,
      I was so excited to see you featured one of my favorite drinks. My friend from Brazil makes them for me and calls them, "Katie's drink!" Love Caipirinha!!

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        June 10, 2014 at 6:50 pm

        Cheers to you!!!! Enjoy it a lot, Kathleen...

        Reply
    4. Betty says

      January 25, 2019 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      Cheers to one of the best drinks I have ever had.

      Reply
    5. Ed says

      February 01, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      5 stars
      It reminds me the Cuban Mojito but without the mint. Caipirinha is very refreshing!

      Reply
    6. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      August 07, 2019 at 9:30 am

      Love this drink -- SO good. Haven't had one in ages, and I do happen to have some cachaça on hand. I should make one of these this weekend! 🙂

      Reply
    7. Valentine says

      October 10, 2019 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      I've always loved caipirinha. Recently I found a good cachaca at a liquor store not so far from my work. Your recipe tastes just like the cocktail that I had in bars butv with a plus, I won't have to pay much anymore for drinking it. Thanks for the tips too.

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Shrimp Cheese Ball Recipe (Creamy & Crunchy) - Easy and Delish says:
      December 28, 2020 at 4:50 pm

      […] sure to pair our appetizer with a festive drink such as caipirinha or this champagne cocktail. […]

      Reply
    2. PAŌ DE QUEIJO ( Cheesed Filled Rolls) says:
      October 11, 2021 at 8:18 pm

      […] or until they begin to lightly brown. Serve while warm accompanied by coffee, guaraná soda, caipirinha or other beverage of your […]

      Reply

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