There is no better way to get into summer mood than with glasses of strawberry and passion fruit caipirinha! Fresh and easy to make, it’s perfect for long days and sunsets. And it looks like one too!
The text has been updated to serve you better. The recipe remains the same. Originally posted on July 2013.
Are you familiar with Caipirinha?
It’s a cocktail that uses cachaça, which is a Brazilian liquor, distilled from sugarcane. It’s clear and is used similarly to tequila or rum.
Caipirinha is originally made with limes, sugar, and cachaca over ice, but modern times added fruits and you can find many iterations. In South America though, we still drink it the traditional way more than any other.
Adding fruits to a caipirinha.
The combination of strawberries and passion fruit works. Not only in this drink.
They balance each other, add different types of acidity and have a synergy together that is amazing. It’s like you taste both fruit by themselves but also individually. So they found their way into a caipi (short for caipirinha around here).
The thing is to add the right amount for it to have enough of both fruits and liquor without them overpowering each other. Passion fruit, with its lemony side, substitutes the original lime.
Steps for making a fruit caipirinha.
- Put sugar and fruit in the glasses you want to serve the drink.
- With a muddler (a bartender tool used to mash or muddle fruit, similar to the pestle) mash the fruit and sugar. It will start to release juices and become soupy (image below).
- Add cachaca and ice.
- Drink before it waters down too much.
Truth is I first became enthralled with this fruit mixture due to a caipiroska a bartender friend made for me once. Some years ago, while looking into the possibility of opening a bar with some friends, we had a few drink-making demonstrations, preparing of the mise en place and all that accompanies cocktail making.
Preparing the fruit.
- Strawberries: there’s not much to prepare, but it’s always better if they are in season because they are sweeter. Wash, stem and cut into small pieces so it’s easier to mash with the sugar.
- Passion fruit: I use fresh juice whenever I can. And it’s a good idea to strain it (image below). It will leave out some of the pulp, but also the seeds, which will not work completely, as they will block a straw or be uncomfortable to bite into with each sip. But it’s your call. You can leave them.
The smell when I cut it in half is so unique, and when I run a finger through some of the juice that remains on the counter the words that pop into my mind are fresh acid.
There’s a freshness about passion fruit that I can’t find in any other fruit. It has nothing to do with the juice itself, it’s the smell of it.
Tips & tricks for this recipe:
- Ice: I use regular ice from my home freezer. But if you have access to more professional larger ice cubes so much the better. They last more so the drink takes longer to water down.
- Glasses: use glasses that can hold everything and have a flat base. You need it to muddle without breaking it (seriously, it almost happened to me once). Don’t use martini glasses for example.
- Fruit: you can use other fruits, but this combination is the bomb! Be careful not to add too much. Test it with one drink. You should taste both the fruits and the liquor. If you use too much fruit you won’t have enough space for the ice and the balance will not be right.
- Personal taste: adjust sugar, ice, and cachaca to your taste (image below, before adding the liquor). And use that ratio as a guide no matter what fruit you use.
- Sweetener: you can use simple syrup instead of the sugar. To make it, simply heat the same amount of sugar and water (1/2 cup of each for example), and when it comes to a boil remove it from the heat. Let cool completely and keep refrigerated.
Other recipes you might like:
Cherry Caipiroska – a vodka cocktail
Passion Fruit Lemon No-Bake Cheesecake
Strawberry Trifle
No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
Coconut Cupcakes with Passion Fruit Curd
Lemon Icebox Dessert
Let me know if you make this recipe! I’d love to hear what you think about it.
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There is no better way to get into summer mood than with glasses of strawberry and passion fruit caipirinha! Fresh and easy to make, it’s perfect for long days and sunsets. And it looks like one too!
Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh, hulled strawberries, cut into chunks
- 5 or 6 Tbs sugar (or simple syrup, see notes below)
- ½ cup passion fruit juice (with or without pulp, your choice)
- 40z. Cachaça (about)
- Ice
- Cocktail straws and napkins, to serve
Instructions
- To get passion fruit juice, simply sieve it through a strainer. The type of holes in it will determine whether some pulp goes through or not.
- Divide strawberries and sugar between two glasses. Add half the sugar and, with a muddler, start crushing the fruit with the sugar, until it becomes syrupy. Do this slowly and take your time. It’s the base of the drink.
- Add ice to almost fill the glass, and then pour half of the passion fruit juice into on top of the ice.
- Add about 2 oz. vodka to each glass.
- Stir until it mixes well, decorate with a strawberry half and serve.
Notes
Tips & tricks for this recipe:
- Ice: I use regular ice from my home freezer. But if you have access to more professional larger ice cubes so much the better. They last more so the drink takes longer to water down.
- Glasses: use glasses that can hold everything and have a flat base. You need it to muddle without breaking it. Don’t use martini glasses for example.
- Fruit: you can use other fruit, but this combination is the bomb! And be careful not to add too much. Test it with one drink. You should taste both the fruits and the liquor. If you use too much fruit you won’t have enough space for the ice and the balance will not be right.
- Personal taste: adjust sugar, ice, and cachaca to your taste. And use that ratio as a guide no matter what fruit you use.
- Sweetener: you can use simple syrup instead of the sugar. To make it simply heat the same amount of sugar and water (1/2 a cup of each for example), and when it comes to a boil remove it from the heat. Let cool completely and keep refrigerated.
Keywords: passion fruit caipirinha, strawberry cocktail, strawberry drink
What a wonderful cocktail! So unique and full of fruity, tangy flavors. Love this!
★★★★★
Absolutely agree with you – these would be ideal for a warm summer evening after a long hot day. Delicious, yummy and looking fabulous!
★★★★★
Thanks Danielle!
That drink looks so gorgeous..packed with flavors and so refreshing.
The flavors here are so delicious! A perfect summer time drink. I need to try it this weekend!
★★★★★
What a perfect summer drink! It sounds so refreshing and light!
★★★★★
I can’t wait to be sipping on this poolside this summer! Looks so refreshing and perfect after a long, hot day.
★★★★★
Summer cocktail girl here! ♀️♀️♀️
This is my list to try! Thanks!
★★★★★