14 Popular and Cultural Brazilian Beverages

Cajuína is a traditional non-carbonated beverage from the northeast region of Brazil, particularly favored in the states of Ceará and Piauí. This amber-hued drink uses cashew apples as the main ingredient.

To make cajuína, it’s all about deseeding and juicing cashew apples before clarifying the juice using cashew tree sap or gelatin. Then, the concoction is sterilized and bottled for the final product, offering a sweet and slightly acidic taste.

This genuine flavor often complements meat or seafood dishes quite well. Also, in Brazil, ‘cajuína’ is also the name of a cashew-flavored carbonated soda.

Chimarrão is a South American-infused herbal drink, known as cimarrón or yerba mate. The concoction is steeped in hot water, with the ingredient being the dried leaves of the yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis).

For serving, the iconic metal straw (bombilla) and calabash gourd container (mate) are common items to enjoy chimarrão. Some places even offer the mix with milk or fruit juices.

As the national beverage of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, chimarrão is also popular in the southern states like Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina of Brazil.

With a rich caffeine content, chimarrão’s bitter and vegetal flavor might surprise first-timers. The drink is even available in tea bags, loose-leaf form, or bottled iced tea.

Guaraná is a Brazilian soft drink using a native fruit called guaraná. The extract from this unique fruit lends a mild or sweet taste to the mix.

Surprisingly, guaraná even has a caffeine content higher than coffee. Also, the term ‘Guaraná’ describes any Brazilian drink that features this particular extract.

Limonada suíça is a lemonade drink originating from Brazil, offering a distinctive blend of tangy and creamy notes. This traditional lemonade combines whole limes, sugar, condensed milk, ice cubes, and water to create a slushy texture.

While this version of the drink includes condensed milk, some recipes leave it out. Limonada suíça is perfect for sipping on hot summer days after blending the ingredients and straining.

However, limonada suíça can become bitter if left standing for too long. The drink is also called Swiss lemonade, as condensed milk was introduced by the Swiss company Nestle in the 1940s.

Cafézinho is the Portuguese term for Brazilian-style coffee, which translates to ‘small coffee’, hence the way people serve the drink in small espresso cups. Created in the 18th century, this black coffee is occasionally mixed with rapadura, an unrefined cane sugar.

This brew is a sweetened coffee prepared by boiling water with sugar, and stirring in coffee powder before straining and serving. The Brazilian-style coffee pairs well with snacks like cookies or sugar-dipped orange peel.

Aluá is a traditional Brazilian fermented beverage with a sour profile. Made from a mix of crushed pineapple rinds, rice, sugar, and ginger, the alcohol content of aluá can vary depending on the fermentation time.

As a homemade drink, locals love aluá, particularly in northern and northeastern Brazil. Also, aluá plays a significant role in the Festas Juninas holiday celebrations.

In Bahia, the drink is associated with the candomblé, a local Afro-Brazilian folk religion.

Cachaça is a Brazilian distilled spirit, also known as caninha or pinga, crafted from fermented and distilled sugarcane juice. Pronounced kah-shah-sah, it is the most popular spirit in Brazil, with a subtly sweet and fruity taste.

You can savor the liquor neat, on the rocks, or as an ingredient in Brazilian cocktails like caipirinha, batida, or leite de onça.

The Brazilian spirit comes with a golden or colorless profile and an ABV of around 40%.

Batida is a traditional Brazilian cocktail, made using cachaça, fruit juice like lemons, passion fruits, guavas, and sugar. Some folks love to twist the recipe with a splash of coconut milk, crafting the popular batida de coco.

After a quick blend or shake with ice, batida is served in a zombie glass for a mixture that tastes like a boozy milkshake. The name of this mix is translated to ‘shaken’ or ‘milkshake’ in Portuguese.

Caipirinha is Brazil’s cherished national cocktail that uses cachaça, limes, or other fruits such as pineapples, passion fruits, papayas, and a dash of sugar.

The mix comes with many variations, with options like caipiroska using vodka, sakerinha with sake, and caipirissima favoring rum. In Brazil, people love pairing caipirinha with a hearty feijoada of black bean stew.

Cauim is an authentic Brazilian beer type with alternative names such as Chicha de Yuca, Masato, Co’no, Lumu Asua, or simply ‘manioc beer’ in English. This alcoholic beverage primarily uses manioc or maize, optionally blended with fruit juices.

Surprisingly, the beer is fermented using the enzymes in human saliva obtained through chewing.

Commonly, Cauim has an alcohol content ranging from low to moderate. The beer is particularly popular during religious rituals, ceremonies, and social gatherings.

Quentão de vinho is a European drink now a cherished part of Brazilian cuisine. Also known as vinho quente, this beverage blends red wine or cachaça with ginger, sugar, and aromatic spices like cloves and cinnamon.

The ingredients are heated together to create a mix, ideal for the festive seasons of Festa Junina and Christmas. People often pair the concoction with snacks and desserts, such as munguza doce (corn coconut pudding) or pamonha (sweet corn mush).

In Brazil, red wine is the choice in the south for making quentão de vinho, while the version with cachaça is preferred in the northeastern part of the country.

Bombeirinho is a cocktail hailing from Brazil, with the name meaning ‘little firefighter’. The drink is recognizable for its red color, achieved by mixing cachaça with gooseberry syrup and a splash of optional lime juice.

Served primarily in shot glasses, bombeirinho is a go-to staple in bars across Brazil.

Capeta is a traditional of Brazil, aptly named ‘devil’ for its sweet but fiery profile. This concoction combines cachaça, guaraná powder, sugar, and condensed milk.

The concoction is popular in the northern and northeastern parts of Brazil, where the mix is often served in specialty cocktail bars called ‘Capetarias’.

A staple during carnival and summer festivities, this cold drink is traditionally served over ice in a wide glass.

Brazilian beer is a significant part of Brazil’s culture and history, first introduced by German immigrants in the 19th century. With lagers being the most popular, the country was the third-largest beer market worldwide in 2020, according to Kirin Holdings.

Notable brands include Skol, which was once Scottish but is now a definitive part of Brazil’s beer scene. Antarctica served in sizable 600ml bottles, Brahma enjoyed in small glasses, and Bohemia, the country’s oldest brewery.

Furthermore, beer consumption sees a noticeable spike during the vibrant Carnival season in Brazil, a feature that makes Brazilian beverages well-known.