Introduction

The sugar cane spirit , commonly called "aguardente" (burning water) or "cachaça", appeared by chance because of the sugar production at the beginning of colonization of Brazil, between years 1530 and 1550, it is the oldest and most genuine Brazilian drink. "Aguardente", "caninha" or "cachaça" is an alcoholic drink obtained by the distillation of fermented broth of sugar-cane, with an alcoholic graduation from 38% to 54% of ethyl alcohol, in volume, at 20°C, sugar can be added in as much as 6g a liter.
 

The aged sugar cane spirit contains at least 50% of cane aged in oak barrels or of other Brazilian typical woods, for at least one year.

With about 2 billion liters produced in 2001, by more than 30 thousand producers, in almost all regions in Brazil, where it is found in more than 960 thousand sale points, the sugar cane spirit is the most consumed drink in the country, occupying the second place among alcoholic drinks, behind beer only.

The Brazilian consumption guarantees it the third place among distilled drinks of the world, behind Vodka and Soju or Sochu. In 2001, 1,3 billion liters were officially traded and only 11.1 million liters were exported (0,5%) of raw sugar cane spirit to more than 60 countries, while the aged sugar cane spirit is very little exported. The world average consumption of distilled drinks per inhabitant is 2,2 liters, while in Brazil the average is about 11 liters, of Sugar cane spirit alone.

Cachaça is known in Brazil by more than 400 synonyms or popular denominations, as one can verify in the New Houaiss Dictionary of Portuguese Language.

Cachaça is the most versatile of the distilled drinks, consumed pure, with tropical fruit juices (cocktails) or with lemon juice known worldwide as the famous "Caipirinha", considered by the American magazine Style the hottest drink of the century.
     
( graphic by PBDAC)