Caipirinha
Brazil's national cocktail, the Caipirinha, is a vibrant and refreshing drink made with fresh lime, sugar, and cachaça. Its simplicity allows the bright citrus and potent spirit to shine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 medium Lime
- 2 tbsp Granulated Sugar(or to taste; superfine sugar dissolves more easily)
- 60 ml Cachaça(Brazil's national spirit, distilled from sugarcane. Use a good quality brand.)
- generous amount cubes or crushed Ice
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the lime: Wash the lime thoroughly. Trim off both ends, then cut the lime into 4 to 6 wedges. For a less bitter drink, you can optionally remove the white pith from the center of each wedge before muddling.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 2
Muddle the lime and sugar: Place the lime wedges and sugar into a sturdy old-fashioned glass or cocktail shaker. Gently press down and twist with a muddler or the back of a spoon. The goal is to release the lime juice and oils from the peel without shredding the peel into tiny pieces, which can make the drink bitter. Muddle until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the lime is fragrant.
⏱️ 2 minutes - 3
Add cachaça and ice: Pour the cachaça over the muddled lime and sugar. Fill the glass generously with ice (crushed ice is ideal).
⏱️ 1 minute - 4
Stir and serve: Stir the mixture vigorously with a bar spoon or long spoon for about 15-20 seconds. This chills the drink, dilutes it slightly, and incorporates the flavors. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a lime wedge if desired.
⏱️ 2 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use fresh, firm limes for the best flavor.
- ✓Muddle gently to extract juice and oils without bitterness. Over-muddling can release bitter compounds from the pith.
- ✓Cachaça is essential for an authentic Caipirinha. While it's a sugarcane spirit like rum, its flavor profile is distinct.
- ✓Adjust the sugar to your preference. Some prefer it sweeter, others more tart.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Caipiroska: Substitute vodka for cachaça.
- Caipirissima: Substitute rum for cachaça.
- Fruity Caipirinhas: Muddle other fruits like strawberries, passion fruit, kiwi, or pineapple along with the lime.