How to Make the Best Caipirinha Cocktail

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 CAIPIRINHA 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 CAIPIRINHA COCKTAIL

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 CAIRIRINHA DRINK 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

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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

Keyword 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

Calories 170 kcal

Author Denise Browning

Ingredients

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

Instructions

1. 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 Facts

Caipirinha Drink Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 170 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 2mg0%

Potassium 68mg2%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin C 20mg24%

Calcium 22mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.