Alembics in Paraty
Anyone who knows Paraty knows that the city had great historical importance for Brazil. One of those moments of great importance was during the Sugar Cycle, which according to some, remains in the city today due to its famous production of cachaça. And that’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this text, the incredible stills of Paraty.
If you want to know more about the history of Paraty, we offer the Free Walking Tour Paraty, where we tell you the history of the city in depth, and give you tips on how to make the most of your stay.
At the end of the text we will leave a tip on how to enjoy the “Alembics Route” and other tours with reliable agencies through Civitatis.
Importance of cachaça in Paraty
During the colonial period, Paraty had more than 250 sugar cane mills, and it quickly became popular due to the large amount of artisanal cachaça that were already produced at that time. The city’s popularity was so great that it became synonymous with quality. If a cachaça was manufactured in Paraty, the quality of the brandy was guaranteed.
This cachaça-making art ended up becoming part of the city’s culture and identity, and continues to this day. The passion for the traditional Brazilian drink is such that Paraty hosts the famous Cachaça Festival every year in August. The festival opened in 1983 and receives thousands of cachaça enthusiasts and lovers every year. This year the festival takes place between the 17th and 20th of August 2023, the admission is free.
Alembics in Paraty
In addition to the traditional itineraries of beaches and waterfalls in Paraty, it is also possible to visit the famous stills in the region. With a lot of tasting and learning about this characteristic drink of the city.
There are currently 6 stills in Paraty (out of more than 100 that have operated in the city). Keeping all manufacturing in an artisanal way (some have maintained the same production method for decades), and with the same quality for which the city became known.
Get ready to learn more about the “Alambics Route”.
Cachaça Maria Izabel has been produced in an artisanal way since 1996, at Sítio Santo Antônio, on the edge of Paraty bay (here’s a tip, you can stay at the Sítio). With the sugarcane plantation on the site itself, the cachaça manufacturing process is fully supervised (from planting to reaching the bottle), which guarantees the quality for which it is so famous. An important detail is that Maria Izabel is the cachaça with the lowest acidity index among those from Paraty.
Another curiosity that few know is that Maria Izabel exists! The owner of the alembic welcomes everyone who goes to Sítio Santo Antônio, and it is easy to recognize, she is always barefoot. She usually jokes saying that “she’s not a cold foot!” (a Brazilian joke about being unlucky), and that she feels better stepping on the ground, whether it’s cold or sunny.
Engenho D’Ouro cachaça was born from a dream (over 20 years old) by Francisco Carneiro. Inspired by the tradition of more than 300 years of history of cachaça in the city, he began to manufacture brandy as a hobby and for leisure. The resulting cachaça impressed friends and family, and over time, it improved until it became what it is today, with all its quality and unique sensory characteristics.
Since 2016, the still has been winning national and international awards. The latter award being the silver medal in 2019 at the Brussels World Contest, with its Cachaça Premium Carvalho. In 2018, he won gold in the same contest with Cachaça Extra Premium Carvalho.
So if you are interested in tasting a cachaça that was a world champion, you already know where to go.
At Engenho D’Água Distillery (also known as Alambique Antonio Mello), where the famous Cachaça Coqueiro is produced, the guided tour tells the story of the family that has been producing cachaça since 1803 (one of the oldest still in production). In addition to knowing the history of the distillery, the visit takes you to the aging vats, and includes a tasting of premium products, and even a blend made by the visitor himself.
You can’t go wrong with tradition!
The Paratiana alembic is one of the most well-structured and beautiful. With ample space and surrounded by nature ( the Alambique is in the heart of the Atlantic Forest). During the visit it is possible to see the aging barrels and the entire fermentation process. In addition to visitation, the alembic also has a store with all the drinks produced, and the Cachaça Museum, with more than four thousand rare and historic labels.
It is worth keeping an eye on the internationally awarded cachaças. Like Paratiana Ouro, which took the gold medal at the World Distilled in New York in 2018. Or Paratiana Prata, which also won a gold medal in 2018 at the same competition.
The Pedra Branca alembic is one of the newest, construction work having begun in 2007 and completed in 2009. Under the management of producer Lúcio Gama Freire, the alembic grows selected varieties of sugarcane, supervising the entire manufacturing process. In addition to the artisanal brandy, the still has a beautiful look, as it is located in Vale da Pedra Branca (one of the most beautiful regions of Paraty).
The alembics of Paraty are true cultural and tourist treasures. They represent the history and tradition of a region, while promoting the appreciation of local agriculture and artisanal production. Many alembics are also involved in sustainable practices, using organic production methods and valuing the preservation of the environment.
Visiting an alembic in Paraty is like diving into a world of tradition, history and flavors. It is an opportunity to appreciate the authenticity of an emblematic drink from Brazil, made with passion and dedication by master distillers. The experience of getting to know the alembics and tasting the local cachaça will certainly leave a lasting impression on all those who visit this charming city in Rio de Janeiro.
As promised, here’s a tip on how to enjoy various tours in Paraty with reliable agencies. The jeep tour passes by 2 of the stills that we talked about here in the text, not to mention the look of one of the most impressive national parks in Brazil. We also leave some other tours that we consider interesting.
We hope you enjoy the “Rota dos Alambiques” and all the wonderful delicacies produced in Paraty. And remember to drink in moderation!