Sitting in a quiet bar overlooking the dazzling vista of Iguazu Falls, I can hardly imagine a more refreshing drink than a Brazilian caipirinha. Simply mash small chunks of lime and sugar together in a glass. Add lots of ice and a special distilled sugar-cane alcohol called cachaça and the drink is complete. The same drink is also made using other tangy fruits including lemons and passionfruit.
The lime and cachaça provide a superb contrast of sweet and sour and makes for a tangy thirst-quenching drink in the humid falls climate.
In Australia, I have enjoyed on several occasions a variation called caipiroska made on vodka instead of the Brazilian cachaça.
While I've never seen a caipirinha outside of Brazil (it wasn't even available on the Argentinian side of the falls!), make sure you check out the national drink of Brazil.
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At the start of each month, Travel Wonders highlights a characteristic drink experienced on his travels. Other offerings from South America include coca tea from Peru and the famous Pisco Sour, available over much of South America.
Photo Credit: caipirinha
While in Brazil I had one that had passion fruit and chili powder in it - and LOVED it! I've been hooked ever since. That was about 7 years ago and I still remember that drink!
ReplyDeleteI had one of these for the first time a couple of weeks ago at a Brazilian resto in San Francisco - they are damn good and damn strong!
ReplyDelete@sherry: wow, chilli powder in a cooling drink like this would add another aspect to the drink. I'd love to try it.
ReplyDelete@andi: Good to see they are escaping Brazil for the world to share...
The Brazilians seem to know how to add color to just about anything :)
ReplyDelete@anil: I agree, they have a great sense of fun and enjoyment - as much as any nation I've seen.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a drink I had in Dom Rep. I thought is was like an alcoholic lemonade. I would love to try this. Nice photo and post, thanks!
ReplyDelete@bluegreen kirk: I suspect these fruity concoctions are around throughout central and south america.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Brazil but I did try this cocktail (how do you spell it?) in the Cicus Hotel in Berlin. I gathered from my local drinking partner that it's a very popular cocktail there and I was certainly finding it very refreshing!
ReplyDelete@heather: The word must be spreading if it is being served in Berlin. I really enjoy this drink.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about elsewhere but caipirinhas are really popular in the UK now and you can get them everywhere - thank god!
ReplyDelete@dan: I have seen them in Australia sicne as well. Maybe the secret is out and the news has spread across the world.
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