Caipirinha: how to make this homemade Brazilian cocktail for summer?

No need to pack your plane tickets, we’ve unearthed a cocktail that will take you straight to Brazil from the very first sip. We’re talking about the Caipirinha. Here’s our homemade recipe.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy delicious cocktails, in moderation, of course! After sharing the recipes for the Pink Spritz and the Garibaldi, today we’re tackling another classic that’s both popular and easy to make: the Caipirinha. If you’re not familiar with this drink, it’s a mix of lime, cane sugar, and cachaça, a type of Brazilian rum.

The origin of this drink is somewhat unclear. Some say it hails from Rio de Janeiro and was used to combat the cholera epidemic in the region. As noted by our colleagues at Le Figaro, “If it was once a remedy against this disease, the Caipirinha also served as a powerful nutritional supplement for Brazilian sailors. They used the cocktail to address vitamin C deficiency and protect against scurvy.” Meanwhile, residents of São Paulo claim the cocktail was created in their city to treat the Spanish flu in 1918.

Regardless of its mysterious origins, the Caipirinha’s popularity is undeniable. It has become a true staple in Brazil and was even named the “national drink” by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture in 2008.

Here’s how you can make this drink at home:

Ingredients for the Recipe

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

For 1 glass, you will need:

• Crushed ice
• 5 cl of cachaça
• 1 tablespoon of raw cane sugar
• 1 lime

Preparation Steps

1. Start by washing the lime and cutting it into quarters to remove the white membrane in the center.
2. Cut each lime quarter into three pieces and place them in a glass.
3. Add the sugar and use a muddler to crush the lime pieces thoroughly to extract as much juice as possible and dissolve the sugar.
4. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
5. Pour in the cachaça and serve with two straws.

And there you have it—your Caipirinha is ready to enjoy!

Note: Once the cocktail is finished, do not add more sugar, as it will no longer dissolve.