Today is Brazil's Independence Day! As I'm writing this post, all the rhythms of Caetano Veloso, Elis Regina, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Maria Bethania, Joao Gilberto, Roberto Carlos, Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, and Daniela Mercury—all contemporary Brazilian musicians—are swirling through my head. And what can be a better way to celebrate than with a caipirinha? Keep reading, because I'm sharing my "secret" formula for the BEST caipirinha you'll ever have!
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The caipirinha is the national cocktail of Brazil. It's made with cachaça, the national drink of this wonderful country famous for its soccer, garotas, the dazzling carnival, samba and bossa-nova, and immortal telenovelas such as A Escrava Isaura and O clon.
Cachaça is distilled from sugar cane. It's also the basis of the delicious shakes made with fresh fruit pulp and condensed milk called batidas. Caipirinha is a simple yet delicious and refreshing cocktail. It's so popular and has led to different versions around the world, such as caipifruta (capirinha with fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, tangerine, or mango) or caipiroska, in which vodka substitutes cachaça.
The following is my recipe for the classic caipirinha. It is made with cachaça, sugar, and lime. Take this celebration to surprise your better half with a delicious and refreshing drink, and keep in mind there is nothing sexier on the planet than a woman who knows how to shake a good cocktail!
Cheers!
Caipirinha
Ingredients for one cocktail
2 ounces cachaça
1/2 lime, cut into quarters
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Preparation
- Cool a short glass with crushed ice.
- In a shaker, muddle the lime quarters with sugar to extract the juice and oil of the citrus skin.
- Add cachaça and ice from the glass, and shake vigorously.
- Pour the entire contents into the cold glass, and enjoy!
For more of my recipes, visit my website.
