cachaca
a lime
brown sugar
lime syrup if you like

crushed ice

tumbler (old-fashioned glass)

For a true Caipirinha cut the lime into 8 wedges and put in the glass. Add sugar. Muddle the lime and sugar together until they are well mixed. Fill the glass completely with crushed ice and add the cachaca. Stir. Garnish with a twist of lime peel if you like (it's seldomly done).
If you prefer a "Caipi" that doesn't taste as strong add a dash of lime syrup.

Try drinking the caipirinha directly through the ice without using straws. Even more refreshing I think.

Don't confound fresh lime juice with lime juice syrup. Lime juice is pure fruit juice, while lime juice syrup is made of lime juice, water and sugar. The problem for all the confusion: a famous lime juice syrup is called "Rose's Lime Juice" although it definately is a syrup!

For many years in a row during the 1990s the Caipirinha was the most popular drink in Germany.