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Brasil-Shop › Recipes › Caipirinha – Brazil's national cocktail

Recipe · Drink

Caipirinha – Brazil's national cocktail

A good caipirinha consists of just four things: lime, sugar, cachaça and ice. The key is to press the lime only gently so that it does not turn bitter.

Brasil-Shop editorial team · published on 20.10.2026 · quantities can be adjusted with the portion calculator

Caipirinha – Brazil's national cocktail

Method

  1. Wash the lime, cut off the ends and cut into eighths. Remove the white centre piece – it tastes bitter.
  2. Put the lime pieces and sugar in the glass and press gently with a muddler until the sugar dissolves. Do not mash the peel.
  3. Fill the glass to the top with crushed ice.
  4. Pour the cachaça over, stir briefly and serve immediately.
Tips
  • Cachaça: It is distilled from fresh sugar cane juice, whereas rum is mostly made from molasses. For caipirinha the classic choice is an unaged, clear cachaça.
  • Too bitter? Press less and carefully remove the white centre piece. Too sour? Half a teaspoon more sugar.
  • Variations: With vodka it is called caipiroska, with rum caipirissima. Alcohol-free: leave out the cachaça and top up with soda or ginger beer.
  • Note: Alcohol is for adults only. Please enjoy responsibly.

Handy extras

If something is missing for the recipe: Ad: The Amazon links are affiliate links. They lead to search results, not to a specific offer.

Wooden muddler (pestle)

For gently pressing the lime.

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Cachaça

For caipirinha choose a clear, unaged cachaça. For adults only.

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Frequently asked questions

Which sugar is best?

White or brown cane sugar. Fine sugar dissolves faster, brown gives a caramel note.

Can I use frozen limes?

Fresh limes taste better. A classic variation is briefly frozen pieces, which give off less bitterness – a matter of taste.

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Updated: October 2026 · We deliberately do not state nutritional values. For allergies and intolerances, check the ingredient lists of the products used.