This easy Brazilian Caipirinha recipe makes a refreshing and delicious cocktail, with limes, sugar, Cachaça liquor and ice. Give this national cocktail of Brazil a try!
Watch the World Cup in style with a homemade Brazilian Caipirinha!
It seems like everyone I know became a soccer fan overnight. I think there’s just something about rooting for your home team in an event which only happens once every four years.
It’s just like the Olympics; I don’t typically spend my down time watching curling, figure skating, or bobsled racing, but you can bet that I’ll watch during the Olympics so I can root for team USA!
As Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup, I thought I’d share the best caipirinha recipe, since it is the Brazilian national cocktail. Caipirinhas are made with Cachaça, which is the most popular distilled spirit in Brazil (and tastes somewhat similar to rum).
Quest for the Perfect Capirinha
We had lots (and lots) of Caipirinhas while we were in Brazil. Sadly, I’ve yet to find a bartender anywhere else in the world who can make one (the right way).
Here’s a short list of places where I’ve tried Caipirinhas:
- Hipster bars
- Our hotel bar in Athens
- A Brazilian restaurant downtown
- An airport bar in either Houston or Philadelphia (I can’t remember which)
Every single one tasted completely nasty.
For a cocktail with only three ingredients, you’d think it wouldn’t be so hard to learn how to make a caipirinha. Except that it actually isn’t hard to make. In fact, it’s super easy.
I think the problem is that most bartenders just haven’t had a proper one so they don’t know what the end result should taste like.
Here’s a hint: it shouldn’t taste nasty. If it tastes bad, you’re not doing it right.
HOW TO MAKE CAIPIRINHAS
Okay, so, let me run you through the steps to making the best Caipirinha of your life:
- Cut up a lime and put it in a glass.
- Add brown sugar.
- Muddle.
- Pour in some Cachaça.
- Add ice.
I’m going to show you the right way to do each of these steps through the use of PICTURES!
Step one: Notice how the lime is cut into teeny tiny pieces.
Step two: Brown sugar. Two heaping tablespoons should do.
Step three: Muddle like you’ve never muddled before. Muddle the living heck out of those limes, then muddle some more.
Muddle until no sugar grains remain and you’re left with a beautiful caramel-colored syrup.
I picked up my muddler while we were in Brazil – but I’ve had my eye on this one for quite some time.
Step four: Add three ounces of Cachaça. Yes, you heard me right. You’re going to want to sip this.
Step five: Stuff as many ice cubes as you possible can into that glass. Brazilians are sticklers about keeping their drinks cold, probably because it can get hot as you-know-what down there.
Also, as the ice melts it will dilute the drink a little bit which you might appreciate if you are sensitive to strong drinks.
That’s it! Easy, right?
Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the World Cup in true Brazilian style!
Brazilian Caipirinha Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lime - cut into small pieces
- 2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 ounces Cachaça
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Place the lime pieces in a glass. Add the brown sugar and muddle until completely dissolved into a syrup. Add cachaça, stir, then top with ice.
NOTES
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Please note that caipirinha recipe is often misspelled many different ways as: caiprinha recipe, caipirina recipe, caprinha recipe, caiparinha recipe, caparinha recipe, caprihana recipe, caipirnha recipe, caprinia recipe, caprihina recipe, caipirinia recipe, capirina recipe, caipirinha recipe, caiparina recipe, capirinhas recipe, caipirihna recipe, and capirinia recipe. Wow! That is a lot!
I would like to add something to the mix,
Take the lime cut off both “ends” (part where is was attached to branch and opposite), then cut into quarters,
BUT VERY IMPORTANT !! ” REMOVE THE WHITE INSIDE ”
Put in Martinin shaker, then add white sugar and muddle lime but not toooooo much or it gets sour!
Then fill glass with ice to top!
Then add vodka almost to top, about 5-7 seconds.
Shake shake shake for 15seconds,
Pour everything (including limes) into the glass, ENJOY !!
bjosssss
The caipirinha that you made looks delicious! I lived in Brazil for a few years and was a bartender for a summer. A few thoughts…I’ve never seen or heard about anyone using brown sugar. White sugar has always been used in my experience (São Paulo, Florianópolis, Fogo de Chão restaurants). In the cocktail mixer, throw in the lime pieces (I cut them into 1/8 pieces). Pour 2 helping teaspoons of sugar for Americans, 3 teaspooons for the true Brazilian way. Muddle the cr@p out of it. Add a heaping amount of ice. Pour the cachaça over the ice to preference (I do a 3- to 7-count based on who it’s for). Shake vigorously. Pour into glass, lime wedges and all. Alternately, vodka can be used in place of cachaça. I can usually only find ’51’ cachaça at my local store, and the price is too much for me (~$25/bottle, compared to ~$5/bottle in Brazil). 51 brand is low quality. I normally prefer a caipiroska anyways (substitute the cachaça with vodka). This is a common, premium option to the caipirinha in Brazil. Svedka vodka is a high-quality, Swedish vodka for a cheap price. It is the best deal I can find in the states for vodka. I always keep mine in the freezer so you get that thick, syrup-like texture. I hope this helps someone! Saúde!
Don’t muddle the %$#@ out of the limes. If you do, you can release too much bitter taste. Be gentle 🙂
Hello!
I’m Brazilian and I say you can also use white sugar and vodka, cause we know how hard it is to find Cachaça internationally!
I love your blog 🙂
Thank you, Ana!! I’ll have to try it out with white sugar and vodka some time 🙂