The national drink of Brazil finds a home at Rioz
Like the Brazilian cowboys who carve charcoal-roasted meats at your tableside, Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse’s signature drink, the Caipirinha, is as exotic and traditional as the gauchos who serve it.
A muddled mixture of Brazilian rum, lime and sugar shaken with crushed ice, the Caipirinha is the perfect accompaniment to the rich flavors of a Rioz’s meal. Sweet, citrusy and tangy on the palate, this national drink of Brazil may have first originated as a slave drink, later becoming a common beverage imbibed throughout the country and now around the world. The process dates back to 1532 when the Portuguese brought the distillation of sugarcane to Brazil to create Cachaça, now widely recognized as a type of Brazilian rum. A distant cousin to the daiquiri, the Caipirinha harkens back to old Brazil, first imbuing early colonization, then hard-fought independence.
Be sure to order one tableside at Rioz, but if you’re dying to try this easy-to-make drink at home, see the recipe above.
Rioz
2920 Hollywood Drive
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
(843) 839-0777
Hours: 4-10 p.m. daily
1 whole lime
2 tablespoons sugar
1.5 ounces Brazilian rum
Lime wedge, for garnish
