The cachaça-based drink, popular in Brazil up until the end of the 1970s, is making a comeback in bars, restaurants and parties: the batida
A batida is a smooth, sweet tasting drink, which can make it quite dangerous given that you hardly realise that you’re drinking cachaça!
It is very simple to make. You will need the following ingredients in equal measures: cachaça, condensed milk, fruit and ice. These ingredients are placed into a blender and mixed until the drink reaches a smooth consistency. The practical side of the drink is that you can make it in large quantities, for several people, or if you don’t feel like sharing you can leave it in the fridge for up to three days and appreciate it slowly.
Batidas can be made using various flavours, but the most popular in Brazil is made with coconut. This version never lost popularity and is always welcome as an aperitif at family get-togethers and small parties. To try it you will need a can of condensed milk and equal measures of cachaça, coconut milk and ice. Throw everything into a blender, mix and voilà! Your delicious and cold batida is ready to sample. Decorate the glass with a touch of cinnamon powder to give it that special taste.
Other flavours that can work well for batidas are strawberry, pineapple, mango (use real fruit, fresh or frozen), passion fruit (concentrated juice), peach (canned) or peanut butter (preferably unsweetened). You can also make the drink using a mixture of fruits, like coconut and pineapple (similar to a piña colada) or passion fruit and peach… or whatever your imagination allows.
Cheers!
