🥃 Cachaça de Paraty
Cane spirit from the municipality of Paraty in Rio de Janeiro state: Brazil's first geographical indication for cachaça (2007), a designation of origin since 2024.
Cachaça de Paraty is a cane spirit from the municipality of Paraty on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, the first cachaça in Brazil with a geographical indication. The Brazilian industrial property institute INPI recognised it in 2007 as an indication of origin and in 2024 as a designation of origin, the first for a Brazilian distillate.
A protected name. The applicant is APACAP, the association of craft cachaça producers and friends of Paraty. According to a 2025 review of Brazilian geographical indications, the name covers six alembics, and the area is about 700 km² of the municipality. Protection extends to two drinks: cachaça and the «aguardente composta azulada», a cane spirit with a bluish tint.
Why Paraty. In justifying the designation of origin, INPI cited natural and human factors: the wide altitude range of the Serra do Mar ridge, abundant and regular rainfall, hand-grown sugar cane, fertilisation with pomace and vinasse, and low pesticide use. The taste is described as slightly sweet, with a pleasant warmth from the alcohol.
History. Paraty is a historic colonial-era town, and cachaça has been made here since at least the 17th century; according to Sebrae, from the 18th century it was shipped to Europe. Today's producers are small family alembics. General cachaça requirements are set by Brazilian Decree No. 6.871/2009: 38–48% ABV and no more than 6 g/l of sugar.
Why this matters to you. The word «Paraty» on a bottle means the cachaça was made within this municipality under the association's rules, not merely in the style of the region. It is a strong spirit like any cachaça: 38–48% ABV. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | INPI (Brazil) registration: indication of origin from 10.07.2007, designation of origin from 2024; Decree No. 6.871/2009, art. 53 |
|---|---|
| Raw material | fermented juice of sugar cane from the municipality of Paraty |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 38–48% ABV at 20 °C |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Cachaça de Paraty → similar → 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Cachaça
- Related to
- 🌍 Latin America
- Similar and different
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits, 🥃 Rhum agricole
Frequently asked questions
Is Cachaça de Paraty a brand?
No. It is a Brazilian geographical indication: several producer members of the APACAP association in the municipality of Paraty use the name.
When did Cachaça de Paraty get protection?
INPI recognised the indication of origin in 2007, and at the start of 2024 changed it to a designation of origin.
What is aguardente composta azulada?
A second drink protected under the Paraty name: a cane spirit with a bluish tint, traditional to this region.
What is the strength of Cachaça de Paraty?
Like any cachaça under Brazilian law, between 38 and 48% ABV at 20 °C.
How does a designation of origin differ from an indication of origin?
An indication of origin protects the reputation of a place; a designation of origin also confirms that the quality of the drink is due to the natural and human factors of the region.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Alcoholic fermentation — Yeast eats the sugar in the must and releases alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses — Raw materials of rum, cachaça and other cane spirits: cane juice or molasses; rum made from them is at least 37.5% vol. in the EU.
- 🌴 Rum and sugarcane spirits — Rum is a distillate of molasses or sugar cane juice, from 37.5% vol.; cachaça is a separate Brazilian spirit.
- 🌍 Latin America — A region from Mexico to the south of South America: about 9% of the world's milk, dulce de leche and fresh cheeses, Argentine and Chilean wines, olives.
Similar
🥃 Charanda · 🥃 Cuban rum (Cuba) · 🥃 Domači rum · 🥃 Rhum de la Guadeloupe · 🥃 Jamaica Rum · 🥃 Pisco (Peru)
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Agência Sebrae de Notícias: Cachaça de Paraty conquista reconhecimento inédito como Indicação Geográfica (30.01.2024) — INPI changed the IP to a Denominação de Origem at APACAP's request; first Brazilian distillate with DO; Serra do Mar relief, high rainfall, manual cane cultivation
- Cheres, Y. H. S.; Medeiros, M. L. Estratégias de divulgação das cachaças reconhecidas com Indicação Geográfica no Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Ecoturismo 18(5), 2025, pp. 305–326 — Paraty/RJ: 6 alambiques, aguardentes tipo cachaça e aguardente composta azulada, IP 10.07.2007 / DO 01.02.2024, area 700 km², APACAP
- CNA Brasil: regulamentação de bebidas — cachaça (Decreto nº 6.871/2009, art. 53: 38–48 % vol. at 20 °C, sugar up to 6 g/l)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)