Brazilian food and drink is some of the most diverse in the world, thanks to large immigrant groups from several continents that have made their way there.

Brazilian food and drink is every bit as diverse as the people that populate the country. Taking influence from Portugal, the Amazon, West Africa, and Morocco, Brazilian cuisine is enticing and delicious.

Many recipes are very regional and the food may contrast drastically from one of the country to the other. Different immigrant groups and produce found in individual regions of Brazil are a direct cause of this. The basic ingredients of Brazilian cuisine are beans (feijao), coconut, lemon, shrimp, cod, rice and manioc.

History of Brazilian Food

The wide variety of immigrants to Brazil has no doubt influenced the cuisine. Brazil’s earliest peoples were tribal groups that lived in the tropical forests that dominate much of the country. The Portuguese arrived in 1500 and imported African slaves, particulalrly in Salvador and the Bahia area, thus the fusion of foods began and was later influenced by various immigrant groups from Europe and Asia.

Brazilian Staples

Rice and Beans - This is the most common dish in Brazil. Wherever you are, there is a good chance you will find a plate of seasoned rice and beans on the table.

Salgadinhos - A common snack food, somewhat similar to an empanada. These sweet or savory pastries can be eaten at any time of the day.

Pão de Queijo- A type of cheese roll made of flour and cheese. It’s a common snack in many Brazilian corner stores.

Churrasco - Barbecued meat often served all you can eat.

Feijoada - A bean and meat dish is quite common in Rio de Janeiro.

Acarajé - A kind of muffin made of onions and beans that are fried in palm oil.

Caruru - Is a delectable dish of mashed okra, cashews, shrimp, onions, pepper and garlic.

Tacacá - This soup, common to Northern Brazil and Amazonas with a broth of wild cassava, jambú, dry shrimp, and yellow peppers served in a cuia.

Chouriço - Is a similar to chorizo, although less spicy and common in Minas Gerais.

Bolinhos de Arroz - Fried rice balls.

Brazilian Drinks

In the 16th century, sugar was the supreme cash crop in the world and sugar cane plantations took off in Brazil. It’s no wonder that sugar based alcohols were created at this time. The original recipes of aguardiente, a Brazilian firewater, are still used today by many people in rural areas.

Cachaça, which is distilled from sugar cane, is a type of raw rum. It’s made from sugar cane juice, while rum is made from molasses and then aged in oak barrels. It’s the most popular spirit in Brazil and the main ingredient of the national drink, the Caipirinha which mixes Cachaça with lime and sugar.

Types of Brazilian Restaurants

Churrasqueira - Churrasco is the term for barbecue in Brazil and Churrasqueiras are the best place to find barbecued, or grilled meat.Typically, Brazilian Churrasqueiras cook meat on skewers over an open flame. Waiters come around table by table with the skewers and cut off pieces directly on the clients plate.

Comida a quilo - These are a common type of restaurant where food is paid by the kilo, or by weight.

Pizzerias - Pizza is actually quite common in Brazil, particularly in São Paulo and the south where Italian communities are common. Most pizzas are cooked on wood fired ovens and can include an array of unusual toppings such as guava jam, chicken, banana, and even ketchup or mustard.