Brazil For The Gourmet Traveler

Popular Foods & National Cuisine

Coxinha, Farofa, Feijoada, Salpicao

Popular Beverages & National Drinks

Cachaca, Caipirinha, Coffee, Guarana

Best Dining Destinations

Buzios, Rio de Janeiro

Foods

Coxinha

Coxinha is a common dish in Brazil that is often offered as a great street food. Spiced chicken is rolled in mashed manioc or potatoes and fried into a drumstick shaped dumpling.

Farofa

A somewhat common side dish in Brazil, farofa is basically cassava flour toasted with butter. Various ingredients can be added or it can be used as a stuffing.

Feijoada

Feijoada is considered by most the national dish of Brazil. Versions of this black bean stew vary depending on the different types of meats and sausages added into it. Many will eat this thick filling stew as a side dish or a meal itself.

Salpicao

Translated as shoestring salad, salpicao is another one of the many popular side dishes served in Brazilian cuisine. This salad mainly consists of chicken, hearts of palm, potato sticks, peas, apples, and mayonnaise.

Drinks

Cachaca

Distilled from sugar cane juice, this alcoholic beverage is Brazil's version of rum. Cachaca, one of the most popular of all beverages produced in the country, is the main ingredient in Caipirinha. The taste is a cross between rum and tequila, with a sweet touch

Caipirinha

If you ever travel to Brazil, you must not leave without having an authentic Caipirinha. If cachaca is not the national beverage then this one sure fits the bill. This refreshing, and sometimes strong beverage, can cool down anyone on the hottest days. The ingredients are simple and consist of: Cachaca, crushed lime slices with extra juice added, and sugar served over crushed ice. If you are a margarita lover, you might give those up altogether after a taste of Caiperinha.

Coffee

Brazil is one of the largest coffee producers in the world, Brazil has been turning out fantastic blends in recent years. Although rather mild compared to beans grown in other parts of the world, Brazilian coffee is unique in its own right.

Guarana

These little orangish-red colored fruits are packed with energy. The only edible part of the Guarana fruit is the black seed packed deep inside. The most common use for Guarana is in soft-drink production. Since the seeds contain high levels of caffeine, the beverages produced with Guarana are great for an energy boost.

Destinations

Buzios

Once a prosperous fishing village, Buzios has become one of the fanciest resort areas in Brazil. Numerous restaurants and nightclubs populate this beach-side area, with plenty of fresh seafood.

Rio de Janeiro

Rio is the most popular city frequented by tourists in Brazil. If you want access to every type of food Brazil has to offer as well as international selections, this is the city for you to sample. Prices can range from just a few dollars for street foods up to tens of dollars for pricier establishments. Be adventurous and at least try a street food vendor, but be sure to find one where many of the locals from all societies frequent.