Nando, SE

Every nation worldwide is renowned for its' favourite drink. Russians are famous for vodka, Italians are famous for wine, the Irish are famous for whisky, and Brazil is famous for cocktails, specifically the Brazilian national drink: caipirinha. The heart and spirit of caipirinha comes from cachaça (pronounced: kah-shah-sah), which has filled Brazilian glasses for almost 500 years and remains the spirit of Brazilian drinks. To some people in the UK, however, cachaça remains an exotic and mysterious variety amongst the vast array of beverage choices.

The Beginning of Cachaça

The creation of cachaça can be traced back to the 1500's when the Portuguese were settling in modern-day Brazil. Cachaça is produced from sugarcane and during the establishment of Brazil, the Portuguese shifted their production of sugarcane from Madeira, an archipelago located off the northwest coast of Africa, to the newfound land of Brazil.

The first evidence of cachaça dates back to 1529, where the first cachaça brew is believed to have been made by African slaves working in the sugar mills. They fermented the fresh juices of discarded sugarcane, which assisted them in addressing their strenuous working conditions. To Brazilians, cachaça was the first product invented in Brazil. It is the personification of Brazilian ingenuity and it rightfully deserves an elevated status among Brazilian drinks.

Cachaça Prohibition and National Cachaça Day

Contemporary Brazil is world renowned for samba, carnival, and football. What many people in the UK do not know, however, is that cachaça was once banned in Brazil; not because of any negative attributes, but because it had become so immensely popular.

During the colonial era, in around 1630, the monarchy observed that the sale of cachaça far surpassed bagaceira, Portuguese grape brandy. Cachaça's popularity wreaked havoc on efforts to sell bagaceira and consequently bagaceira revenue plummeted. In 1635 King Philip IV of Spain (during 1621 – 1640, Portugal was administered by Spanish rule) banned the production and sale of cachaça, forcing cachaça into the black market. Cachaça was produced in secret and remained an important commodity amongst slaves. Cachaça was traded in exchange for goods as a de-facto currency. Portugal regained her independence in 1640 and King John IV of Portugal ascended the throne, however, the ban on cachaça remained.

In 1659 the cachaça ban became tighter under King Afonso VI, and Portuguese colonial administrators had powers of product seizure, destruction of cachaça producing equipment, and could even go as far as threatening deportation. Tensions in Brazil reached boiling point. In 1660 a group of cachaça producers in Rio de Jeneiro rebelled against the cachaça prohibition and seized control of the city's government in an uprising known as the Cachaça Revolt. On September 13, 1661, by royal order of King Afonso VI, the cachaça prohibition was negated and cachaça production was officially re-legalised.

This momentous occasion of Brazilian resilience in the face of tyranny has a special place on the Brazilian calendar. September the 13th is Cachaça Day, in which the struggles of the Brazilian people are remembered and cachaça is celebrated.

The Essence of Cachaça

Cachaça has endured the test of time, has survived through the prohibition of three kings, and continues to become increasingly popular; which all leads to the question: why is cachaça so appealing? Naturally, the answer revolves around its' flavour, which remains as vibrant as Brazil itself.

According to drink website 31Dover, Cachaça is commonly thought of as rum; however, there is a distinct difference between the two. Rum is produced from molasses, a syrup and by-product of the sugar refining process. Cachaça is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice, which gives it a fruity and refreshing essence. Cachaça producers have had the opportunity to create many unique cachaça variations over the past 500 years, all of which are beloved. Cachaça is unearthing a niche in many London bars. Anyone who has cocktails in the UK has most likely sampled cachaça, and enjoyed it.

Final Thoughts Regarding Cachaça

Cachaça had its' humble beginnings as a poor man's drink, has survived the onslaught of 3 different kings, and has rightfully become a symbol of Brazilian national identity and pride. The story of cachaça is intertwined with the history, development, and vibrant culture of Brazil as a nation. It retains an exceptional place on the Brazilian calendar because, for the past 500 years, myriads of people worldwide have fallen in love with cachaça. Cachaça is here to stay and shall continue to be enjoyed, perhaps for the next 500 years.