Caipirinha

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   Wash the limes well. Trim off the ends, cut each lime into 8 wedges, and remove the thick white core from the center pieces if prominent; this reduces bitterness while keeping the peel's aroma.

2. 2

   Divide the lime wedges between 2 sturdy old-fashioned glasses. Add 15 g white sugar to each glass.

3. 3

   Muddle the limes firmly but not aggressively, pressing enough to release the juice and essential oils from the peel without shredding the rind too much, which can make the drink bitter.

4. 4

   Add 60 ml cachaça to each glass and stir briefly to help dissolve the sugar in the lime juice.

5. 5

   Fill the glasses generously with crushed ice and stir again for 10-15 seconds until the outside of the glass feels very cold. Top up with a little more crushed ice if needed.

6. 6

   Garnish each drink with a lime wheel and serve immediately with a short straw or stirrer.

Nutrition per serving

Notes

• •For a more authentic texture, use coarse white sugar rather than syrup; the crystals help extract the lime oils during muddling.
• •If your limes are very tart, increase the sugar to 36 g total. If they are sweet and juicy, 24 g total may be enough.
• •Always use crushed ice rather than cubes for the classic fast-chilling, lightly diluted finish.
• •Avoid over-muddling the peel or pith, which can give the cocktail a harsh bitter taste.

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