Summer is not over yet! Not for us anyway. Let us take you to the beach with this lovely summery drink. This one is perfect for those who have yearned for a tropical paradise. This is the Caipirinha cocktail.
What is a Caipirinha?
Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail. It’s made with cachaça (sugarcane liquor), lime, and sugar. The cocktail is made by first combining the fruit and sugar, then adding the liquor. A Caipirinha can be served in a single large glass to be shared among individuals or in a larger jar and served in individual glasses.
History of the Caipirinha cocktail?
According to historians, the Caipirinha was created in the 19th century by landowning farmers in the region of Piracicaba, the interior of the State of So Paulo, as a local drink for ‘high class’ celebrations and parties, a reflection of the region’s strong sugarcane culture.
The Caipirinha is Brazil’s strongest national drink and is consumed in restaurants, bars, and many homes around the country. Once nearly unknown outside of Brazil, the drink has grown in popularity and availability in recent years, thanks in large part to the increased availability of high-quality cachaça brands outside of Brazil.
Although the drink’s exact origins are uncertain, one source claims it originated around 1918 in the Portuguese province of Alentejo, with a popular concoction made with lemon, garlic, and honey, recommended for people suffering from the Spanish flu. According to another story, Caipirinha is based on Poncha, an alcoholic drink from Madeira, Portugal. The major element is aguardente de cana (sugar cane aguardente).
The major element is aguardente de cana (sugar cane aguardente). The Portuguese moved sugar cane production from Madeira to Brazil because they needed additional areas to cultivate it on. Before this, the people of Madeira had invented Aguardiente de Cana, which was the ancestor of cachaça.
It is still used as a tonic for the common cold today. Practitioners frequently add distilled spirits to home medicines to speed up the medicinal impact.
Aguardente is often used “until one day, someone decided to remove the garlic and honey. Then added a few tablespoons of sugar to reduce the acidity of lime. The ice came next to ward off the heat,” Says Carlos Lima, the executive director of IBRAC (Brazilian Institute of Cachaça).
What Glass is Caipirinha Served In?
The Caipirinha is typically served in a tall tumbler glass like a highball glass. However, it can also work in a lowball glass. You just need something that can hold ice. If you don’t own the right glassware for this cocktail, consider some of the options below.
How to Make a Caipirinha
Below are the ingredients and directions for a Caipirinha. We hope you love this drink as much as we do.
Variations of a Caipirinha cocktail
Want to try some variations on this cocktail? Here are some common remixes on this classic.
1. Caipiroska
This variation uses vodka instead of cachaca, making it a little more accessible.
2. Caipimojito
For those of us who are more likely to have a bottle of rum in the cabinet than a bottle of cachaca, this one is for you. Just use rum instead of cachaca.
3. Caipisake
This one is made with sake. And you thought this drink couldn’t get more exotic.
Caipirinha
This one is perfect for those who have yearned for a tropical paradise.
1
servings300
kcal2
minutesIngredients
2 Ounces Cachaca
1/2 of a lime, Quartered
.75 Ounces Simple syrup
Directions
- Place the lime pieces in the bottom of a mixing glass, add the simple syrup, and muddle, extracting not just the juice but the oil from the skin of the lime.
- Add the cachaca to the mixing glass, then fill a rocks glass three-quarters full with ice and dump the ice into the mixing glass and shake well.
- Pour the entire contents of the mixing glass-the ice, liquid, and muddled limes-back into the rocks glass and serve.
Recipe Video
Conclusion
So what do you think of the Caipirinha cocktail? Is this the summertime cocktail you always wanted? Do you love it? Hate it? What would you rate it? Let us know in the comments below.
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