Bloody Limes!

A Brazilian caipirinha

One of my pet hates.

Nearly every blog I see that details the Brazilian caipirinha and/or gives a recipe, tells you to use LIMES! And, I saw another this morning.

A caipirinha is made with LEMONS!

Limes and lemons are totally different flavours; limes are not as sour as lemons.

The confusion arises because here in Brazil lemons are green; and everyone outside Brazil sees a green lemon and goes “Limes”. They are NOT Limes.

As green lemons get older they tend to develop a yellow tinge, limes do not.

Please help stamp out this erroneous bullshit!

Green lemons are NOT limes

Cheap 51 is used most, but I prefer something a little more upmarket

If you can’t get green lemons, don’t use limes. Use a traditional yellow lemon, and if you want to have the ‘Brazilian green’ garnish with lime slices.

Recipe:

• 1 lemon cut into eight pieces.
• Sugar to taste.
• Mash the lemon and sugar in glass (or use a mortar and pestle), add ice.
• Fill glass with cachaça.

Once you have made the mix, you may need to add extra sugar because green lemons are ‘nipple puckering’ sour.