Muddled lime, sugar & ginger beer — Brazil's celebration drink, alcohol-free
The Caipirinha became Brazil's national cocktail in 1918, born in São Paulo. Its name means 'little countryside drink' — caipira being slang for a rural person. The mocktail version replaces cachaça with ginger beer, which provides a similar warmth and bite. The muddling technique is everything.
The muddling is the whole technique — the sugar crystals literally abrade the lime peel and extract the bitter, fragrant oils. Brazilian limes (key limes, tahitian) are smaller and more aromatic than Persian limes. For a passion fruit version (Caipifruta), muddle half a passion fruit with the lime.