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What is the difference between a Mojito and a Caipirinha?
cocktail ingredients Mojito and Caipirinha

The deceiving quality of appearance

A rudimentary Caipirinha cocktail recipe requires three basic ingredients namely Cachaca (a spirit made from sugar cane), limes, and sugar; similarly, The Mojito, a refreshing poolside favourite, also boasts a three-part ingredient recipe namely rum, mint and sugar.

While these two cocktails are similar in their appearance (clear), both a little sweet, muddled and easy to make; these two drinks could not be further apart in terms of their taste, flavour and aroma.

What they have in common is that both are reasonably light on calorie counts and healthier than most cocktails and refreshing!

Are you ready to dive right into a popular Caipirinha cocktail recipe, and apply a bit of elbow grease while we are at it?

Caipirinha cocktail recipe

To make your signatures styled Caipirinha, here’s what you do:

  1. Cut off one large lime into quarters and place them in a double old-fashioned glass (for a sweeter flavour you can try dry Tahitian limes).
  2. Add two teaspoons granulated sugar and muddle the ingredients together. Use granulated sugar it models well and adjust quantities according to your taste. You can also try brown sugar for an earthier flavour.
  3. Fill the glass with crushed ice as it melts quickly and dilutes the strength.
  4. Pour over 60 ml of Cachaca and lightly stir.
  5. Garnish with a lime wheel.

A few craft reinventions

Mixologists play with the classic recipe in lots of different ways by simply adding sweet fruits or swapping out the base spirit for vodka or rum.

Here are a number of variations that turns this Brazilian favourite on its head:

  • Most recipes use aged Cachaca, but unaged versions also work well. You could replace Cachaca with vodka to make a Caipiroska, or with rum to make a Caipirissima.
  • For even more sourness stop with a lime wheel.
  • To introduce spicy sweet notes, try a slice of crystallised ginger.
  • You can add complimentary flavours with a dash or two of tropical tiki or citrus flavoured bitters.
  • To introduce more flavours, muddle the lime with other ingredients such as sliced cucumber or raspberries.

Have you decided which cocktail you want to make?

Follow this easy recipe to make your own Mojito, or head on over to this page for the step on making a Caipirinha.

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