A caipirinha is a traditional Brazilian co*cktail that is made with a mix of muddled limes, sugar, crushed ice, and cachaca. Cachaca, pronounced cachaza, is a popular Brazilian sugar cane liquor, similar to rum and aguardiente.
Caipirinhas are one of those drinks that are amazingly simple and easy to make, yet many restaurants/bars (outside of Brazil) tend to mess it up. Of course, when a co*cktail is very simple, it does require good quality ingredients.
En Español
Classic Brazilian caipirinha co*cktails
Easy recipe to prepare traditional Brazilian caipirinha co*cktails, made with limes, sugar, cachaca rum liquor, and crushed ice.
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Course: co*cktails, Drinks
Cuisine: Brazil, Latin
Keyword: Braziliam rum, Cachaca, Caipirinha
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 caipirinha
Ingredients
- 1-2 limes sliced in half lengthwise and the pith removed, can be cut in quarters after the pith is removed
- 1-2 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 ounces of cachaca
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice - optional
- Crushed ice
Instructions
Either directly in a short glass or in a co*cktail shaker, combine the lime halves or quarters with the sugar and use a muddler to gently crush and squeeze out the lime juice from the limes.
Add the cachaca and lime juice, stir or shake well. If using a co*cktail shaker pour the drink, including the muddled limes, into a short glass with crushed ice. If making the drink directly in the glass, add crushed ice and stir.
Serve immediately garnished with a lime slice.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g
Other caipirinha variations with different types of alcohol:
Caipiroska: uses vodka instead of cachaca.
Caipisake: made with sake, the best caipisakes are usually fruity ones.
Caipirissima: replace the cachaca with rum.
Caipimojito: make a mojito and use cachaca instead of rum.
Caipirita: magaritas made with cachaca instead of tequila, or
Caipirila: caipirinhas made with tequila instead of cachaca
Caipirinhas are very strong, the proportion of alcohol to the rest of ingredients is quite high, and it’s a drink that needs to be sipped and enjoyed slowly. It’s one of those drinks where you know you are drinking a real drink, the benefit is that unlike some fruity drinks where you barely taste the booze –and therefore drink way too much, you know from the start that you probably shouldn’t have too many.
There are also (in my opinion) certain places, like the beach, and certain meals, like feijoada (a heavy Brazilian bean dish), where caipirinhas are ideal. And obviously, any party to watch the Brazil World Cup is also a perfect place to enjoy a caipirinha – even more so if you haven’t had one in a while, or want to try it for the first time.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Brazil and enjoy delicious refreshing caipirinhas there, but also worked with some awesome Brazilians at my previous job. During one of our fun work events we had a party to watch a movie and decided to make caipirinhas. This is when I learned that I was cutting limes for caipirinhas the wrong way. Previously I was just quartering the limes or cutting into small pieces, my friend Lu taught me that the right way was to cut them half (lengthwise), remove the pith from the middle and either use the whole half or cut it into quarters.
I also found that if I cut the lime lengthwise, but before the center I could avoid the pith entirely, and also get additional small long slices. Now I use a combination of these pith-less halves and small long slices to make caipirinhas. Lu also told me that to make the caipirinhas extra refreshing you can add some additional lime juice to the drink when you are preparing it.
Most caipirinhas are usually made using white or clear cachaca, but you can also useaged dark/gold cachaca. The dark cachaca is aged in barrels and has a richer and more intense flavor. I’ve madecaipinhas with aged cachaca and have to say that I really enjoy the taste even more than the regular caipirinhas. There are also many variations of the traditional caipirinha. Caipirinhas, like many other classic Latin co*cktails, can also be prepared in fruity variations, these are called caipifruta. Some of my favorite caipifruta variations include those made with pineapple, passion fruit, strawberry, mango, kiwi, never mind, I just realized I like all the fruity caipirinhas.
Step by step preparation photos for making Brazilian caipirinha co*cktails:
Related
FAQs
Pineapple & Mint Caipirinha - with, pineapple, mint, lime, sugar and cachaça. Raspberry Caipirinha - with raspberries, lime, sugar and cachaça. Red Grape Caipirinha - with red grapes, lime, sugar and cachaça. Sakerinha Caipirinha - with sake in place of cachaça.
What's the difference between caipirinha and cachaça? ›
Caipirinha is the Brazilian favourite and is made from cachaça, sugar, and lime. Cachaca is distilled from sugar cane as well with different flavours than rum.
What kind of sugar is in a caipirinha? ›
caipirinha ingredients
sugar: We've made these with granulated sugar, simple syrup, and sugar cubes. All fine, but we personally prefer sugar cubes the best. They are easy to pop into the shaker and break down smoothly. Simple syrup didn't really do it for us, but works well in a pinch.
What's the difference between a mojito and a caipirinha? ›
While a caipirinha is made with cachaça, limes, and. sugar, a mojito is made with rum, mint, and sugar. They are both clear, a little sweet, and muddled, but. the drinks taste wildly different.
What is caipirinha in English? ›
The Caipirinha, pronounced 'Kai-Pur-reen-Yah' and translates as 'little countryside drink', is made by muddling green lemons which are native to Brazil (limes are best used when these are not available) and mixing with sugar and cachaça.
Is cachaça stronger than vodka? ›
The main distinction tends to be purity. Cachaca is distilled to a lower strength than the 90-plus-per-cent alcohol level of most white spirits, such as vodka and light rum (though like those other spirits it ultimately is usually diluted to about 40 per cent prior to bottling).
Is cachaça stronger than rum? ›
“However, rhums agricoles are column-distilled to a higher proof and usually bottled at 45% to 50% ABV, while artisanal cachaças are distilled in pot stills to a lower proof and must be bottled between 38% and 48% ABV.” As a result, he continues, “Cachaças reflect the round, fresh flavors and aromas of the fresh ...
What rum is closest to cachaça? ›
The type of rum made from sugarcane juice is known as rhum agricole, and is therefore a closer stylistic match to cachaça. In both, you'll find more of a range of grassy and vegetal flavors, with a distinctive funkiness. Another point of distinction for cachaça is the range of woods now being used to age the stuff.
What is the most popular drink in Brazil? ›
The caipirinha (kai-purr-REEN-yah) is the national drink of Brazil. It's the most popular co*cktail in the South American country, and everyone has their own way of making it. Today, it is a hit worldwide and should be on every home and pro bartender's essential drink list.
What is a substitute for cachaça in caipirinha? ›
You can make a caipirinha without cachaça by substituting the cachaça for vodka. It's actually pretty simple – just swap out the cachaça for vodka and you'll still get that delicious, refreshing flavour that makes caipirinhas so great. Just follow the same recipe, but use vodka instead of cachaça.
Cachaça vs Rhum Agricole
Rum may be one of the best known liquors to be frequently compared to cachaça, but another alcoholic drink is actually more similar. Made on the island of Martinique, rhum agricole is made from freshly squeezed sugarcane, like cachaça, rather than a by-product from the fermentation process.
What does cachaça mix well with? ›
With: Cachaça, Lillet Blanc, lime juice and lemonade. We say: Cachaça, Lillet Blanc and citrus combine in this dry, refreshing drink. With: Cachaça, pineapple, mint, lime and sugar. We say: Minty fresh pineapple transports the Caipirinha into the realm of tropical drinks.
Why is cachaça so good? ›
As for taste, cachaça, rum, and rhum agricole are very different. Cachaça and rhum agricole tend to have a much fruitier, livelier nose, whereas rum has a spicier, caramelized flavor. "Cachaça is much gentler than rhum agricole and much cleaner in flavor than most molasses rums," notes Wondrich.
What is the difference between cachaça and aguardente? ›
Both words mean “firewater,” but if you've come across a bottle of aguardiente, more than likely it is from South America and a variant on sugar cane-based spirits distilled to high proof. The Brazilians make the same stuff, but call it cachaça, and it's a very different creature from Portuguese aguardente.
What is the difference between caipirinha and ti punch? ›
It is very similar to the daiquiri, which is usually identified with Cuba, and the caipirinha, identified with Brazil. The ti' punch is distinguished from these by its use of rhum agricole, and by typically having less lime juice.
What is the most popular cachaça in Brazil? ›
Best Cachaças from Brazil
- Cabana Cachaça. ...
- Cuca Fresca Prata. ...
- Leblon. Origin: Patos de Minas, Brazil. ...
- Novo Fogo Barrel Aged. Origin: Morretes, Brazil. ...
- Pitu Vitoriosa. Origin: Vitoria de Santo Antao, Brazil. ...
- Sagatiba Velha. Price: $30 for 750 ml. ...
- Yaguara Branca. Price: $40 for 750 ml. ...
- Ypioca Gold. Origin: Fortaleza, Brazil.
“However, rhums agricoles are column-distilled to a higher proof and usually bottled at 45% to 50% ABV, while artisanal cachaças are distilled in pot stills to a lower proof and must be bottled between 38% and 48% ABV.” As a result, he continues, “Cachaças reflect the round, fresh flavors and aromas of the fresh ...
