Caipirinha Recipe (+ 4 fruit variations!)
Servings: 1 drink
Ingredients
traditional caipirinha:
- 1 lime
- 1.5 tablespoons cane sugar or granulated sugar superfine sugar can also be used
- 2 oz 60 ml cachaça Brazilian liquor
- 1 cup ice cubes or enough to fill a small glass
mango caipirinha:
- 1/2 lime
- 8 1/2-inch / 1cm chunks mango
- 1/2 Tbsp sugar or 1 Tbsp if the mango is not very ripe
- 2 oz 60 ml cachaça
- 1 cup ice cubes or enough to fill a small glass
strawberry caipirinha:
- 1/2 lime
- 2 large strawberries
- 1 Tbsp sugar or 1/2 Tbsp if the strawberries are very sweet
- 2 oz 60 ml cachaça
- 1 cup ice cubes or enough to fill a small glass
kiwi caipirinha:
- 1/2 lime
- 1/2 large kiwi
- 1 Tbsp sugar or more if the kiwi is not ripe and sweet
- 2 oz 60 ml cachaça
- 1 cup ice cubes or enough to fill a small glass
pineapple caipirinha:
- 1/2 lime
- 10 1/2-inch / 1cm chunks fresh pineapple
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 oz 60 ml cachaça
- 1 cup ice cubes or enough to fill a small glass
Instructions
- Cut the lime into 8 parts: first cut off the bottom and the top of the lime (only the zest and the white pith), cut the lime in half lenghtwise (from pole to pole), then cut each part in half lenghtwise, cut off the white pith from the center of the lime, then cut each lime quarter in half crosswise - you should have 8 parts (see the photos in the body of the post).
- Place the lime pieces in a small glass, add the sugar and fruits (only if you're making fruit caipirinha). Press the ingredients with a muddler (or alternatively with a wooden spoon) trying to squeze out as much lime juice as possible.
- Measure out cachaça and add to the glass. Stir thoroughly with a teaspoon.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes or crushed ice and stir once again thoroughly.
- Garnish with lime slices (and also fruit pieces if you're making fruit caipirinha). You can also serve the drink with straws. Serve immediately.
- Saude! (Cheers!)
Notes
- Caipirinha is a rather strong drink. If you find it too strong to your taste, dilute it with water/sparkling water/soda water/club soda.
- Remember to adjust the taste to your liking! Limes vary in sourness. If your drink is too sour add more sugar (or powdered sugar) or if it's too sweet add more lime juice. A perfect caipirinha is all about achieving the perfect balance between citrus tartness, sugar sweetness, and the sharpness of the alcohol !
- Sugar: my favorite is cane sugar but you can also use white (granulated sugar). A good alternative is also superfine / caster / baker's sugar - this is the same sugar but its crystals are smaller - it will dissolve more quickly in the drink.
- Ice: you can use ice cubes or crushed ice. I prefer ice cubes (rather small). If you have very large ice cubes, break them up into smaller pieces.
- What kind of glass to use: Caipirinha is most often served in an old-fashioned glass, like for serving whiskey (a short glass). Make sure to use a sturdy glass to not break it with the muddler.
- I'm using 2 fl oz (60 ml) of cachaca in this drink, but if you're in Europe or AU your jigger will probably fit 50 ml, you can also use just this amount.
- You can also make a shaken caipirinha - this way the ingredients are more uniformly mixed but this is an extra step and extra glass to wash. To make a shaken drink, add all the ingredients into a shaker (or a big jar) and shake intensely. Drain the liquid and add to a glass filled with ice or just transfer the content of the shaker to glass.
- Virgin caipirinha: try to use sparkling water instead of cachaca.
- Calories count = 1 drink (trditional lime caipirinha). This is only an estimate!
Nutrition
Calories: 211kcal