Put Down That Mojito, It's Time We All Started Drinking Caipirinhas
The Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail. Made using cachaça, a spirit made from sugarcane, it also contains sugar and lime for a simple, yet refreshing drink.
What is the difference between a Mojito and a Caipirinha?
The two drinks do look similar thanks to their addition of fresh lime, but there are some clear differences. For a start, they are from totally different countries. While a Caipirinha hails from Brazil, a Mojito is a traditional Cuban drink.
A mojito also uses rum as its base, while a Caipirinha uses cahaça. Plus, a Mojito adds soda water and mint, too.
How do you pronounce Caipirinha?
Caipirinha is pronounced Kai-Pee-Reen-Ya, while Cahaça is pronounced Ka-Shah-Suh.
What does a Caipirinha taste like?
Because it uses cachaça, it does have that distinct rum flavour. However, it's made from raw sugar cane, unlike rum which is made from molasses, the byproduct of sugarcane. I think it tastes like a less-sweet mojito, but way more tangy and citrus-y.
Is cachaça a rum?
Nope! Contrary to popular belief, cachaça is totally different. As mentioned before, cachaça is made from fresh sugarcane juice that is fermented and then distilled, while rum is made from sugarcane byproduct.
- Yields:
- 4
Ingredients
- 30 g
golden caster or brown sugar (about 8tsp)
- 2
limes, cut into quarters
- 230 ml
cachaça
Directions
- Step 1Add two quarters of lime into each glass, along with 2tsp sugar. Muddle together using a muddler, wooden spoon or small rolling pin.
- Step 2Add ice, pour over the cachaça. Stir.