Even if you didn’t head to Brazil in 2016 for the Olympics, you can still enjoy one of the nation’s most well-known cocktails—the Brazilian Caipirinha.
This lime-infused drink uses cachaca, a Brazilian distilled liquor that starts from unadulterated sugarcane juice (unlike rum, which is made from what is left over after the main sugar removal process). You can usually find cachaca in local shops, but if not, there are a few alternatives listed in the recipe below.
Give it a try as you cheer on your favorite athletes and sports! Or just sit on your porch on a hot summer day. It’s so refreshing, you can always image you are at the beach, or just floating down the Rio Negro on a Brazilian Amazon river cruise.
Caipirinha Recipe
(pronounced: k-eye-per-reen-yah)
Materials needed for recipe
- Measuring cup (Jigger) and measuring spoons
- Muddler
- Low ball glass
- Knife and cutting board
Caipirinha ingredients
- 2 ounces of Cachaca (pronounced kashasah)
- 1 Lime
- 1 teaspoon sugar (or to taste)
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- Club soda (only if you want to dilute)
Caipirinha recipe instructions: Wash the lime and roll it on your cutting board. Cut the lime into pieces and place in a lowball glass. Add sugar. Crush and mix the lime and sugar with a muddler, just enough to release the juice. Pour in Cachaca and mix. Add plenty of ice. Stir well. Enjoy!
To make a pitcher: simply multiply the ingredients by the number of people you would like to serve. When in doubt, make extra.
Alternates
- Citrus Fruit: You can use any citrus fruit to make this cocktail
- Other fruits to try: tangerines, strawberries, passionfruit with mint, lychee, watermelon, kiwi and anything else you want to try out.
- Alternate Liquors: the name of the drink changes with the liquor you use.
- Caipiríssima: if you use white rum
- Caipiroska: if you use vodka
- You can also use sake and other favorite liquors
- Alcohol Free: take out the liquor and add in a little extra club soda.
Note: please drink responsibly. Cocktails are meant to be savored and enjoyed.
