Caipirinha Mocktail Juice

Have you been swept away with Olympic fever yet? After the excitement of a home setting for London 2012 I wasn't sure that Rio could compete, but I've been glued to the TV with my personal highlights so far being the diving and gymnastics. Whilst the athletes are no doubt eating and drinking super healthily, I wanted to take a look at what the national foods are in Brazil. Barbecued meat was really the only thing that immediately sprung to mind but it appears that there are there are a whole range of South American delights to be discovered at the Copacabana!

Moqueca (fish stew), Brigadeiros (chocolate truffles), Feijoada (black bean, sausage and pork stew), Acarajé (black eyed pea fritters with shrimp filling) and Pão de queijo (cheese bread) all had my mouth watering. And then there's there's the drink! Cachaça is to Brazil what Whisky is to Scotland. It's a distilled spirit made from sugarcane juice. The Caipirinha is Brazil's national cocktail made with Cachaça muddled with sugar, lime juice and ice. Perhaps it's not the perfect drink for athletes to quaff at the games so as an alternative I've made a refreshing Caipirinha Mocktail Juice. It has the flavours of the real thing but none of the alcohol and definitely counts towards your 5 a day. Cheers! or Saúde! as they say in Brazil. 

Caipirinha Mocktail Juice

makes 1 large or 2 small glasses

1/2 Pineapple, peeled

1 Lime, peeled but leave on as much white pith as you can

1/2 Cucumber

3 sprigs of Mint

Large handful of Spinach

Crushed Ice

Juice the pineapple, lime, cucumber, mint and spinach.

I use an Optimum 600 Cold Press Juicer.

Once done pour over ice, garnish and enjoy!

(If the sun is over the yardarm feel free to add a shot of Cachaca. Your boozy green juice secret is safe with me)

For a further taste of Brazil take a look at these recipes by some of my food blogging colleagues

• Bolo De Banana (Spiced Banana Upside Down Cake) by Diana at Little Sunny Kitchen
• Moqueca Baiana (Brazillian Fish Stew) by Bintu at Recipes from a Pantry
• Feijoada ( Belly Pork, Black Beans and Smoked Chorizo Stew) by Eb from Easy Peasy Foodie
• Rio pasta with squash, corn and black beans by Mandy at Sneak Veg
• Brazilian Brigadeiro Chocolate Bonbons by Kavey Eats
• Brazilian Gaucho Potato Salad by Kate at Veggie Deserts

And for boozy versions of a Caipirinah check out

• Cucumber Caipirinha Cocktail by Kate at Veggie Deserts
• Passion Fruit Caipirinha by Lucy at Supergolden Bakes
• Cloudy Lemonade Caipirinah by Emily's Recipes & Reviews

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