There is no better way to get into the summer mood than with glasses of strawberry and passion fruit caipirinha! The alcohol used is cachaça, that wonderful Brazilian liquor that pairs fantastically well with fresh fruit, especially citrus. Fresh and easy to make, it's perfect for long days and sunsets.

What is 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Caipirinha is originally made with limes, sugar, and cachaca, and served over ice.
But in modern times fruits are added, and you can find many iterations.
In South America though, we still drink it the traditional way more than any other.

Adding fruit
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 fruits 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.

Simple steps
- 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.
Have you ever set up an informal bar at a party? It's so much fun.
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.

I consider passion fruit citrus. And an intoxicating one.
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.

Kitchen notes
- Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
- 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 sugar. To make it, simply heat the same amount of sugar and water (½ cup of each for example), and when it comes to a boil remove it from the heat. Let cool completely and keep refrigerated.
- This is the homemade way of making this drink. If you have a cocktail shaker, use it to mix the muddled fruit with the vodka and the ice.

Related recipes you might like:
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Strawberry Passion Fruit Caipirinha
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Ingredients
- ½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled, cut into chunks
- 5 tablespoons sugar, or simple syrup, see notes below
- ½ cup passion fruit juice, with or without pulp, your choice
- 4 ounces Cachaça, Brazilian liquor
- ice
- cocktail straws, 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 ½ cup fresh strawberries and 5 tablespoons sugar between two glasses. 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 each glass, and then pour ½ cup passion fruit juice, dividing equally between the glasses.
- Add 4 ounces Cachaça, dividing equally between the glasses.
- Stir until it mixes well, decorate with a strawberry half and serve with cocktail straws.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
Lol I think life in general is better with a drink nearby. All the better if it's one of your incredible strawberry and passion fruit caipirinhas! What I wouldn't give to fly down to Buenos Aires, sit with you in the sun, drink a whole pitcher of this and chat about life. That'd be absolutely perfect! And you're not crazy with how you feel about passionfruit. I feel that way about a lot of food (hmmm...that probably just means I'm obsessed with food).
yummychunklet says
Amazing looking drink.
Karen @ Lemong Grove Cake Diaries says
Wow that looks so good - I love love love passionfruit
Yvonne @ bitter baker says
Mmm, I love caipirinha's!! There's a cuban place in the city where I grew up and I always get that drink when I go there. Love your twist, looks absolutely delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Love passion fruit and this looks perfect for tonight's sipping.
Felicia Lim says
This caipirinha looks so beautiful & refreshing! It makes me thirsty just looking at it! 🙂 I wish it was summer again, and that we're off by the beach somewhere in Brazil instead of having winter in Argentina! At least my mum and sis are here, so they make up for the cold, nasty weather!
un beso!!
Helene Dsouza says
wow your passion fruit is so orange like. What does it look like from outside? We have yellow once growing here and sometimes we get to buy the less sour orange skinned passion fruit but they are never that orange inside. Ahh yeah a bar can be fun, but it can also be very stressful. Whatever you call your gorgeous cocktail, I want it now!
Hannah says
This looks so beautiful and summery!
Angie Schneider says
I love the aroma and taste of passionfruit. Your caipirinha looks so refreshing!
AdriBarr says
What a fabulous drink. I must try it! Thanks for the introduction to it.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
hey Paula!
Strawberry and passion fruit caipirinha sounds just fine to me! 😛 When it comes to cocktails, I actually have no idea what I'm doing. . I usually just go for the wine . . or now I can make a sangria. . but that's about it!
I'm loving all these drinks you are posting and hey, would love to join you in your boozy weekends! I also loved the cherry caipiroska as well! Very impressive and looks great!! and I wish I could set-up an informal bar at a party but again, I wouldn't have the first idea what to do! I would have to study many many recipes like this one! 🙂
Deb says
Cocktails with fresh fruit are the best! I have never tried any with passion fruit but your description has me ready to run to the store in search of the proper ingredients!
Guru Uru says
What an absolutely beautiful drink, so summery and sunset coloured 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
I love passion fruit juice so I know I'll dig this cocktail. Looks super refreshing Paula!
Cocoa and Lavender says
This sounds so refreshing! I have never had a passion fruit before, and now I feel I ought to go right out to the market and get one! And commenting on blogs when a bit tipsy? You can always blame anything on autocorrect! 🙂 Don't you love cocktails on the weekends? Ours, this weekend, were mint juleps! ~ David
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez says
This is like warm summer sunshine in a glass, Paula...I know I'd find them far too easy to drink! We have set up impromptu bars at a few parties, but I want to do one with purpose - perfect for summertime! Now, if only I could find some cachaça, I have had the hardest time locating any locally...
Kate@Diethood says
Damn, that looks goooooood! Now I want to set up a bar party... for one! 😀
Renee says
And I have 2 bottles of cachaca in my liquor cabinet. Step aside lime wedges because strawberry and passion fruit are going into the glass. Love it Paula!
Ninja Baker says
LOL Paula. A drink in hand especially one with lovely strawberries and passion fruit would make most any task easier...Seriously tho' I'm always impressed by how much of an aficionado you are in matters of food and drink. Cheers to a happy Sunday!
e / dig in says
juicy juicy! looks amazing paula, and i too love that acidy tang of the juice left on the cuttingboard or counter, as you say. i am going to plant a passionfruit vine this year, for its gorgeous flowers as well as the unique fruit. cheers, paula!