Introduction: Caipirinha
During my period of study in Portugal I tried to know and to understand every aspect of the portuguese/brazilian culture and it was there that I meet Caipirinha. The easy way to prepare it and its good taste made Caipirinha famous all over the world.
The main ingredient is the cachaça, a distilled alcoholic made from fermented sugarcane. In the XVI century the residuate of sugarcane was given to slaves and to animals. This fermented residuate was called by the spanish "cachaza" and by the portuguese "cagassa".
Then someone had the great idea to distill it, and this originated a strong alcoholic that became famous really soon.
Apart from being an alcoholic beverage it was considered also as a medicine, something like an elixir that could be given to heal from flu (grippe) and fever.
The ingredients are:
- Cachaça (5-6 cl. / 1T fl oz);
- 1/2 Lime;
- 2 teaspoons of white sugar;
- ice.
The main ingredient is the cachaça, a distilled alcoholic made from fermented sugarcane. In the XVI century the residuate of sugarcane was given to slaves and to animals. This fermented residuate was called by the spanish "cachaza" and by the portuguese "cagassa".
Then someone had the great idea to distill it, and this originated a strong alcoholic that became famous really soon.
Apart from being an alcoholic beverage it was considered also as a medicine, something like an elixir that could be given to heal from flu (grippe) and fever.
The ingredients are:
- Cachaça (5-6 cl. / 1T fl oz);
- 1/2 Lime;
- 2 teaspoons of white sugar;
- ice.
Step 1: Cut the Lime
Take a lime, divide it and then cut into four wedges.
Place the lime into the glass. I left the glasses for about half an hour into the freezer, to maintain the cocktail cold while you're drinking.
Place the lime into the glass. I left the glasses for about half an hour into the freezer, to maintain the cocktail cold while you're drinking.
Step 2: Add the Sugar
Add two teaspoons of white sugar into the glass. The refined sugar is better than the cane one, because it melts better with lime.
The use of cane sugar is mainly an european tradition, the original Caipirinha uses the refined one.
The use of cane sugar is mainly an european tradition, the original Caipirinha uses the refined one.
Step 3: Mash the Ingredients
Mash the two ingredients (sugar and lime) with a muddler or a spoon. Be careful not to press too much, to avoid the lime to release its acid part contained in the peel.
Then fill the glass with crushed ice.
Then fill the glass with crushed ice.
Step 4: Add the Magic
Finally it's time to add our magic ingredient, the cachaça. I bought it in a shop, it can be found everywhere (here in Italy). The exact quantity is 5 cl., but you can try different quantities depending on how strong you want it to be.
Step 5: Drink It!
Now it's time to have party and drink all the caipirinhas you can!
Remember not to drive after drinking!
Remember not to drive after drinking!