Caipirinha (Brazilian Lime and Cachaça Cocktail)
In short: Muddled lime, sugar and cachaça over crushed ice. Brazil's national cocktail takes five minutes and needs only three ingredients. It takes about 5 min in total and makes 1 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 1
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 205 kcal
The caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail, a short, sharp mix of muddled lime, sugar and cachaça, the spirit distilled from fresh sugarcane juice. It is served at barbecues, beach kiosks and bars across the country. The drink is simple, so the details matter: use fresh limes, cut away the bitter white core, and press the fruit gently so the juice comes out without the harsh oils of the peel.
Instructions
- Cut the ends off the lime and halve it lengthwise. Cut out the white central core from each half, then cut each half into 2 or 3 pieces.
- Put the lime pieces and the sugar in a short, sturdy 300 ml (10 oz) glass.
- Press the lime with a muddler 6 to 8 times, just until the juice is released and the sugar starts to dissolve. Do not grind the peel, which makes the drink bitter.
- Add the cachaça and stir for 10 seconds to dissolve the sugar.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir from the bottom up. Taste, and add a pinch more sugar if it is too sharp. Serve right away.
Tips
- Use fine sugar, or 1 tbsp (15 ml) simple syrup, so the sweetness blends in quickly without grittiness.
- Swap the cachaça for vodka to make a caipiroska, or muddle in a few chopped strawberries or a spoonful of passion fruit pulp for a fruit version.
Questions and answers
Can I use rum instead of cachaça?
Yes. White rum works, but it tastes rounder and sweeter because it is made from molasses, while cachaça is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice and tastes grassier.
Why is my caipirinha bitter?
Usually the peel was crushed too hard or the white pith was left in. Cut out the core and muddle gently.
How do I make caipirinhas for a crowd?
Muddle the limes and sugar in a pitcher, allowing 1 lime, 2 tbsp sugar and 40 ml cachaça per person. Stir in the cachaça and add ice just before pouring.
How long does it take to make Caipirinha (Brazilian Lime and Cachaça Cocktail)?
About 5 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Caipirinha (Brazilian Lime and Cachaça Cocktail)?
About 205 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 32 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 205 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 32 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 27 g |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
