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READY IN 5 mins

Caipirinha

Read Reviews (16)

"Brazil's national cocktail is so refreshing and delicious! Ask your liquor store to order Cachaca for you if they don't stock it, there's no substitute." — CAMILLA362

Ingredients Edit and Save

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Sugar and Sweeteners

Original recipe makes 1 serving Change Servings

1/2 lime, quartered
1 teaspoon white sugar

2 1/2 fluid ounces cachaca
1 cup ice cubes

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Directions

In a large rocks glass squeeze and drop in 2 eighths of lime. Add sugar, crush and mix with a spoon. Pour in the cachaca and plenty of ice. Stir well.

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PREP 5 mins
READY IN 5 mins

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As a Brazilian myself, I prepare Caipirinha in a slightly different way: the ingredients are still the same (although you can substitute the cachaça for dark rum - it will then be called "Caipirissima"). You should crush the sliced lime (unpeeled, please!) and the sugar in a glass, mix in the cachaça (or rum) and a few ice cubes. As for the comments on using either limes or lemons, I can assure you that what is sold in the US as lime is exactly what Brazilians call "limão Tahiti". So, go with the lime!

—Debora

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Dec 07, 2003

Being a Brazilian myself, I must say that our original recipe for Caipirinha takes lemon (Tahiti lemon), not lime. One more hint: I know this could be hard for you to find in the USA, but try using the artesanal Cachaça, not the industrial one. If you have more than a few drinks, the industrial Cachaça (Velho Barreiro, Ypioca, 51) will probably give you a headache and a hangover the next day. A good quality Cachaça (artesanal), won't! Cheers from Brazil!!!

—KBOOP

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17 Ratings

Dec 19, 2004

This drink is stunning, and believe me being brazilian myself I can assure you that caipirinha is made with lime and not lemon!!! Shame on the brazilians who said it's made with lemon :(

—POCAHONTAS1

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Dec 07, 2003

What a terrific cocktail. No driving afterward, though! it is potent...superfine sugar makes it even better.

—RLNANCE

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Dec 28, 2010

Add an extra teaspoon of sugar. I make double batches and muddle the sugar and lime.

—jhawk2003

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Dec 16, 2005

This drink tastes like heaven in a hot summer afternoon.. but you need three ou four teaspoons of sugar, a inch of pineaple juice and the ice should be crushed.. Enjoy!

—anasofia

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Feb 26, 2004

Being Brazilian I do assure you that Caipirinha is just great! I agree with the other reviewer who said that one should use lemmon instead of lime. Also, it would be better to use cachaça but there is a variation of this drink with vodka( it's called caipivodka) that is also quite nice. If you want to do something diferent you can use other fruits as well ( here it is quite common to use it also done with passion fruit). Cheers!

—VRAMOS

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May 29, 2012

Nothing beats this on a hot day! I was in Rio for 10 days last year and had caipirinhas at a dozen different locations. Never saw a lemon. They were ALWAYS made with lime.

—rruegg

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