Portugal and India had a long history together dating back 5 centuries. The Portuguese were the first to discover India around the 1500. Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea landing in Calicut which is now called Kozhikode. His initial voyage to India (1497–1499) was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and, in this way, the west and the east. He later had a city in the state of Goa named after him and held the title of governor of Portuguese India.
Da Gama’s sea route to India allowed Portugal to establish a rich trade with India and southeast Asia. Portugal was also able to expand its empire to include provinces from India (centered around the state of Goa, whose largest city is Vasco da Gama) to China (the island of Macau).
Portugal’s Pedro Alvares Cabral is officially recognized as the first European to “discover” Brazil in 1500. Cabral was sent to India by the King of Portugal after the return of Vasco da Gama from his pioneering journey to India. Cabral is reported to have been blown off course on his way to India. Brazil became an important Portuguese colony and stop-over in the long journey to Goa. This Portuguese connection led to the exchange of several agricultural crops between India and Brazil in the colonial days such as sugarcane and chili. Also, Indian cattle was imported to Brazil and actually most of the cattle in Brazil is of Indian origin.
The Recipe
2.00 oz Avua Cachaca 0.50 oz Pineapple juice 0.50 oz lemon juice 0.75 oz brunt pineapple & coconut syrup 3 dashes Bittered Sling Moondog bitters
Serve in a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with crushed pink peppercorn and pineapple leaf.
