The Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil consisting of only three ingredients: cachaça, lime, and sugar.

The Caipirinha (pronounced kai-pee-reen-ya) is a strong yet refreshing drink that uses the grit of the sugar to extract the zest and oils of the lime peel when they are muddled together.

Related: Mojito, Strawberry Mojito, Agua Fresca, Gin and Tonic

What is cachaça?

Cachaça is the national spirit of Brazil and is made of fermented sugar cane juice. While the taste is most similar to rum (which is usually made from molasses), its spicy sweet flavor is unique with a subtle fruity profile.

When was the Caipirinha invented?

The origin of the Caipirinha is not totally clear, but it may have appeared in 1918 in Portugal as a medicinal drink (made with lemon, garlic, and honey) for patients with the Spanish flu. It may also be a take on a drink from Madeira, Portugal, called the Poncha cocktail.

Ingredients

• Cachaça: Ask your local liquor store to order this for you if they don’t carry it. While rum is a similar substitute, it just won’t pack the same unique flavor.
• Lime: Lime is what gives this drink a tart freshness, so make sure to use the whole lime and not just the juice.
• Sugar: Sugar sweetens the drink a bit to counteract the lime and the grains of the sugar help to release the zesty oils from the lime peel.

While you can serve a Caipirinha in just about any glass, we recommend a double rocks glass or a medium-sized tumbler.

Directions

Add your quartered limes and sugar to a double rocks glass and muddle until the juice and sugar are mixed together.

Add your ice and then pour in your Cachaça and stir well.

Add a lime or mint for garnish and enjoy!

Tips for Making

• If you want your drink to have more lime flavor, try adding in extra lime juice after muddling your limes and sugar.
• For a sparkling version, top off your drink with a splash of sparkling water!
• Make a fruity version by muddling in fruit like raspberries or pineapple for a fun twist.