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!
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.
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
Caipirinha Drink Recipe
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
Nutrition
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Adam says
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.
Denise Browning says
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.
Jerald Havener says
This is awesome!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Jerald! Enjoy!
Kathleen says
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!!
Denise Browning says
Cheers to you!!!! Enjoy it a lot, Kathleen...
Betty says
Cheers to one of the best drinks I have ever had.
Ed says
It reminds me the Cuban Mojito but without the mint. Caipirinha is very refreshing!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
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! 🙂
Valentine says
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.