Cachaça is the drink of the poor in Brazil. Throughout the vast interior of the country and in the small bars of the favelas in the cities, cachaça – straight up – is “the drink”. This is mostly due to economics as cachaça is inexpensive compared to cerveja (beer).
It is made from sugarcane and is very strong. Throw some on the bar floor and set a match to it and you will see a nice blue, flame. Only the hardcore, machco types drink it straight. Most folks will have their cachaça in Caipirinhas (see link below).
However, over the last few years, quality cachaça has been coming on the market and is now being exported.
UPDATES:
> Brazilian site in English about Cachaça – July 08
LINKS:
> Caipirinha – The National Drink
> Caipirinha – Maria Brazil: good site for many things Brazilian
> New York Times Article and Video
> Acadamia da Cachaça – Rio de Janeiro
I lived in Brazil in 1966 and while I was aware of cachaca –mostly as a component of a batida.. I was mainly a drinker of guarana!
I have to say that my year and a few months in Brazil had a profound effect on my life.
I loved the people, the food, the heat and most of all –how polite people are.
Obrigada.
Yvonne Beltzer
Thanks for the comment.
Where were you here in Brazil?
Brazil has changed very much…mostly for the better.
I lived in Leblon, Copa (2 places), Laranjeiras during my 14 months in residence in Rio. I also visited Brasilia and Belo Horizonte.
I subsequently returned to Brazil 7 more times between 1966 and 1992, always to Rio –although I did travel to Sao Paulo on one of the trips.
I carry Brazil in my heart, I still speak Portuguese, but marrying and raising a family cut short my travels. Then, in 1997, my best friend in the world, Ana Lucia Martins Ferreira, suffered an anyeurism and died and I lost my incentive to go to Brazil. Now, I talk of retiring there –but not to Rio, but somewhere south where there are still clean beaches and cheap condos.
Yvonne Beltzer