Caipirinha

Caipirinha is bright, cold, and intensely refreshing, with lively lime aroma and the distinctive grassy warmth of cachaça. The muddled citrus and sugar create a rustic, juicy cocktail that is both simple and deeply satisfying.

Nutrition · per serving

182kcal

0.3gProtein

16.2gCarbs

0.1gFat

1.6gFiber

2 servings

Ingredients

5 items

Para o drink

lime2 whole

white sugar30 g

cachaça120 ml

crushed ice300 g

Para servir

lime wheel2 slices

Tips

•For a more authentic texture, use coarse white sugar rather than syrup; the crystals help extract the lime oils during muddling.
•If your limes are very tart, increase the sugar to 36 g total. If they are sweet and juicy, 24 g total may be enough.
•Always use crushed ice rather than cubes for the classic fast-chilling, lightly diluted finish.
•Avoid over-muddling the peel or pith, which can give the cocktail a harsh bitter taste.

Steps

1
Wash the limes well. Trim off the ends, cut each lime into 8 wedges, and remove the thick white core from the center pieces if prominent; this reduces bitterness while keeping the peel's aroma.
2 whole lime
2
Divide the lime wedges between 2 sturdy old-fashioned glasses. Add 15 g white sugar to each glass.
2 whole lime30 g white sugar
3
Muddle the limes firmly but not aggressively, pressing enough to release the juice and essential oils from the peel without shredding the rind too much, which can make the drink bitter.
2 whole lime30 g white sugar
4
Add 60 ml cachaça to each glass and stir briefly to help dissolve the sugar in the lime juice.
120 ml cachaça
5
Fill the glasses generously with crushed ice and stir again for 10-15 seconds until the outside of the glass feels very cold. Top up with a little more crushed ice if needed.
300 g crushed ice
6
Garnish each drink with a lime wheel and serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer.
2 slices lime wheel

Origin & History

Caipirinha is widely regarded as Brazil’s national cocktail, built from cachaça, lime, sugar, and ice. It emerged in the countryside of São Paulo in the early 20th century and became internationally famous for its simple, fresh balance of sweetness, acidity, and cane-spirit character.

brazilian cocktail cachaça lime vegan beginner no-cook

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Steps

Wash the limes well. Trim off the ends, cut each lime into 8 wedges, and remove the thick white core from the center pieces if prominent; this reduces bitterness while keeping the peel's aroma.

2 whole lime

Divide the lime wedges between 2 sturdy old-fashioned glasses. Add 15 g white sugar to each glass.

2 whole lime30 g white sugar

Muddle the limes firmly but not aggressively, pressing enough to release the juice and essential oils from the peel without shredding the rind too much, which can make the drink bitter.

2 whole lime30 g white sugar

Add 60 ml cachaça to each glass and stir briefly to help dissolve the sugar in the lime juice.

120 ml cachaça

Fill the glasses generously with crushed ice and stir again for 10-15 seconds until the outside of the glass feels very cold. Top up with a little more crushed ice if needed.

300 g crushed ice

Garnish each drink with a lime wheel and serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer.

2 slices lime wheel