Brazil is the land of carnivals, samba music and gorgeous beaches, but it is also a nation with some seriously boozy cocktails. What are the best cocktails from Brazil? From sweet and fruity to spicy and zingy, we’ve selected a list of the top 10 Brazilian cocktails to try making at home!
1. Caipirinha
The ultimate Brazilian cocktail is most definitely the Caipirinha. Also known as caninha and pinga, a Capirinha cocktail appears on most serious bar menus throughout the world and is always on the menu in Brazil. It’s a harmonious mix of cachaça (Brazil’s national spirit made from fermented sugar cane) fresh lime, sugar and crushed ice. It is believed that the drink originates from 20th-century Portugal where it was said to be a remedy for Spanish flu, and many Brazilians today still believe that this sweet and punchy cocktail cures the common cold.
Why not try experimenting with different flavoured Caipirinhas? Add some tropical fruits such as mango or passionfruit. Crushed berries also work nicely. Another popular variation is swapping the cachaça for vodka – known as a Caipiroska.
Caipirinhas are traditionally served in a large jar which is passed around the table. However, this cocktail looks equally as effective when served in separate glasses with a lime wedge. Remember to rim your glasses with some sugar for the finishing touch!
2. Sakerinha
The Sakerinha is made from the same ingredients as the Caipirinha, except the cachaça is substituted for Japanese rice wine. This exotic drink was created thanks to the culinary influence of the large Japanese populations in Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Campo Grande and embodies the bright patchwork of cultures which make up Brazil.
3. Capeta
Capeta means ‘devil’ in Brazil and the name comes from the bright red colour of this spicy cocktail which is particularly popular in northeastern Brazil. A delicious concoction of cachaça, cinnamon, honey, berries from the Amazon and condensed milk, capeta is an indulgent and sweet drink. You can also swap the cachaça for vodka and add some chocolate powder for an indulgent twist.
4. Alúa
Alúa is an interesting and distinctly-Brazilian pineapple wine drink which is popular in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco. It can be either alcoholic or non-alcoholic- but we prefer the boozy version! Alúa is prepared with pineapple peel, brown sugar, ginger and cloves. The pineapple is left to ferment in water and the longer you leave it, the more alcoholic your drink will be!
5. Batida
Batida is a fruity cocktail which is similar to a milkshake. Cachaça, coconut milk and sugar are blitzed together with ice to create a creamy, frothy mixture. You can also add different flavoured fruit juices, such as strawberry and mango, but make sure you try the classic coconut version first! Batidas are often sold in barracas (mobile bars) near the beach.
6. Colada Brazil
Colada Brazil is the Brazilian version of a piña colada, prepared with cachaça, white rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream or milk. It may not seem too different from the original but that added dash of cachaça brings a whole new flavour dimension.
7. Bossa Nova
Bossa Nova is named after the traditional smooth jazz music of Brazil. Made with quince jelly, gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and thin slices of cucumber, this elegant beverage tastes best with a bit of bossa playing in the background.
8. Caju Amigo
Caju Amigo literally means ‘friendly cashew’ in Portuguese- but don’t be put off by the strange name! There are just two ingredients in this cocktail- cachaça mixed with cashew juice. Some bars serve the whole nuts on their own which are placed on the tongue and swallowed with a shot of cachaça.
9. Rabo-de-Galo
Rabo de Galo is a play on words in Portuguese which roughly translates as ‘tail of the rooster’. It is made from two parts cachaça, one part red vermouth.
10. Quentão de Vinho
Quentão de vinho is the Brazilian take on mulled wine, especially in the southern wine regions of Brazil. Red wine is mixed with caramelised sugar with spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger and orange peel, and a dash of cachaça, and boiled on the heat for a few more minutes. This warming drink is served at the open-air Festa Junina celebrations which mark the start of winter in Brazil.
Saúde!
If you’re heading off to Brazil soon, we hope that this list has given you some ideas about the taste journey that’s ahead of you! Or, if you’re at home, why not put on the samba music, invite some friends round for a churrascaría (barbecue) and impress them with these easy-to-make Brazilian cocktails? Saúde!
Find out more about Brazil:
- Guide to Brazilian wine regions and producers
- A taste of Serra da Mantiqueira with Casa Verrone wines