Frenzied football matches, head-spinning capoeira displays, sexy samba clubs, tasty cocktails on pristine beaches, wild expeditions into the Amazon rainforest, all-night street dances during Carnaval and the colourful clothes, people and language--Brazil is a heady mix of art, culture, urbanisation and untouched nature. To get under the skin of Brazil, read ‘The Alchemist’, by Paulo Coelho, watch, ‘Cidade de Deus’ (City of God) and listen to the guitar sounds of Joao Gilberto.
Information
Capital: Brasilia
Official Languages: Portuguese
Government: Republic
Currency: Real
Time Zone: -3:00 GMT (8½ hrs behind India)
Telephone Calling Code: 0055
When to Visit
Best time to visit: All year around. The average temperature in Brazil is 21.5°C. The highest monthly average temperature is 30°C in September and the lowest monthly average is 11°C in June, July.
What to Eat and Drink
Brazilian cuisine uses ingredients such as casava, sweet manioc, hog plums, pine nuts, yams, peanuts, rice, beans, fish, pork and beef. Vegetarian options can be found in ‘all-you-can-eat or ‘comida por quilo’ or ‘food by the kilo’ type of restaurants, which serve a vast spread of food.
What to eat and drink
Caruru: A spread made of okra, onion, dried shrimp and toasted nuts cooked in palm oil
Feijoada: A simmered bean-and-meat dish
Pão de queijo: Cheese buns
Tutu de feijão: A paste of beans and cassava flour
Moqueca capixaba: Slow-cooked fish, tomato, onion and garlic topped with cilantro
Chouriço: A mildly spicy sausage
Acarajé: Fried, mashed brown beans with salt and onions, stuffed with dried shrimp, pepper and tomato sauce
Cheese buns, pastéis and coxinha: Finger foods
Cuscuz branco: Milled tapioca
Brigadeiro: A type of chocolate candy
Cachaça: Liquor used in the caipirinha
Cafezinho: Espresso shot with lots of sugar and no milk
Sucos: Fruit juices
What to Buy
Soccer and carnaval
memorabilia,
musical instruments, hammocks, clothes, shoes, books, souvenirs, handbags, decorative pieces, jewellery, swimwear, designer wear, antiques, crafts, traditional Bahian outfits, kitsch, weaves, cigars and tobacco, liqueur, a uniquely shaped phonebox.
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