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The Caipirinha: drinking in Rio de Janeiro

The Caipirinha: Brazil’s Most Famous Cocktail

If you’re visiting Rio de Janeiro, you can’t leave without trying a caipirinha. This refreshing cocktail made with lime, sugar, crushed ice, and cachaça is a symbol of Brazilian culture. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy on the beach, during a samba night, or while watching a football match.

What’s in a Caipirinha?

The traditional caipirinha includes:

Fresh lime (cut in pieces, with no white pith)
White sugar
Cachaça, a Brazilian sugarcane liquor
Crushed ice

Though it’s a simple recipe, quality ingredients make all the difference. A good caipirinha depends on ripe limes, real cachaça, and the right balance of sweetness and acidity.

A Brief History of the Caipirinha

The caipirinha’s roots go back to the 19th century, during Brazil’s colonial period. Slaves drank sugarcane juice called garapa, and landowners in Piracicaba, São Paulo, began mixing it with cachaça and lime during fancy events.

This early version evolved over time. People started adding lime peel for extra flavor and, once ice became available, the drink became even more popular. Eventually, the caipirinha became a national symbol—enjoyed by all classes and even seen as a remedy for colds and flu in the early 20th century.

Variations of the Caipirinha

There are many creative takes on the classic recipe. Some swap cachaça for other liquors, while others experiment with fruit:

Caipiroska: with vodka
Caipisake: with sake and fruit
Caipiríssima: with rum
Caipimojito: mojito style, using cachaça
Caipirita: margarita style, with cachaça
Caipirila: with tequila
Caipifruta: with tropical fruits like mango, passionfruit, or pineapple

Tip: Caipirinhas are usually made with white cachaça, but aged cachaça gives the cocktail a deeper, more complex flavor.

How Strong Is a Caipirinha?

Very strong. The drink has a high proportion of alcohol compared to its mixers. It’s meant to be sipped slowly, not chugged. It pairs especially well with traditional dishes like feijoada, or beachside snacks like fried fish and shrimp.

How to Make a Caipirinha

You don’t need to be a bartender to make one at home. Just follow these steps:

Ingredients:

1 or 2 limes, quartered (remove the bitter pith)
1 or 2 tablespoons sugar
2 ounces of cachaça
Crushed ice
Optional: 1 tablespoon of lime juice
Garnish: lime slice

Instructions:

Place the lime and sugar into a short glass or shaker.
Use a muddler to gently press and release the juice—don’t over-mash the peel.
Add cachaça and optional lime juice.
Stir well or shake briefly.
Fill the glass with crushed ice and stir again.
Garnish and serve immediately.

Refreshing and zesty, a caipirinha is Brazil in a glass!

Visiting Rio? Check some amazing activities in Rio de Janeiro

City Tour in Rio de Janeiro with Sugar Loaf

Visit to Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer and Tijuca Forest

Jeep Tour to La Rocinha & Tijuca Forest

Ginga Tropical Dinner Samba Show

Enjoy our tours to visit Rio de Janeiro and other destinations in Brazil

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