The Caipirinha

One of Brazil's greatest gifts to the world is the Caipirinhia, along with passionate music and football magic.

What could be simpler than the Caipirinhia? Cachaça, lime, sugar and ice. The combination is nothing but delicious. It's also available everywhere in Brazil. However due to the divine smooth taste, there is a risk of loosing count how many you have had. The other problem is that most places use the cheapest brands of cachaca that can hit you hard the next day when all you want to do is enjoy a day in the sun out on the beach.

From here on the deck hammock overlooking the beach, feet in the air, and probably as good a place appreciate the Caipirinha. Few beach drinks go down sweeter. - Photo courtesy of Flickr

Cachaça means firewater in Portuguese and fuels passion in Brazil. It is distilled after being extracted from crushed sugarcane. The harvesting of sugarcane originated from when the colonial Portuguese put the local slaves to work. The whiskey-sipping middle and upper classes have long looked down on cachaça as a drink for the poor. Accordingly, the name Caipirinha means poor little peasant girl.

A Caipirinha recipe from Brazil's Beaches

- Cachaca

- Limes

- 1 1/2 Tbsp Sugar

- Crushed Ice

> Quarter the limes into small triangular wedges. Mash them together with a wooden pestle in the serving glass, then fill it with crushed ice to the brim. Add the cachaca and shake or stir vigoruosly.