Food in Rio de Janeiro

Last updated on November 28, 2015

If your next tour is to Rio de Janeiro, this article will guide you on the best food to taste. Brazilian cooking has many similarities with its South American neighbours, but it can still be classified as distinct and unique. From the Amazon in the North, through the fertile plantations of the central coast, to the Southern ‘pampas’, the food of Brazil is a rich and favourable mix of cultures and cuisines.

Food for the beach

• Acai berry drink- Acai berry is one of the key ingredients of Brazilian diet. This ripe fruit is full of anti- oxidants and anti- ageing properties, and is often credited for promoting weight loss, improving sexual performance and sleep, and reducing cholesterol. The drink is made with crushed ice and acai berry pulp has a rich purple colour. You can try out the berry as part of smoothie that you will get at stalls lining the beaches, or you can treat yourself with berries bought from vendors plodding through the sand.

• Grilled cheese- Slabs of cheese is treated with olive oil, flavoured with oregano oil, grilled and served hot on wooden skewer. Have it while savouring a sun bath.

• Tapioca- Depending on the ingredients, tapioca can be sweet or salty. The common ingredients used are bananas, coconut and cheese. You can have tapioca from the many stands selling them in the beach.

• Salgado- These are small Brazilian pastries. These are round morsels of hot cheesy bread, croquettes, sweet pastries and salted pastries. You can get them from vendors who frequent the beaches.

• Matte leao tea- This is a great beverage to quench your thirst on the beach. They are generally served with ice. Another popular drink is the coconut water that wards off dehydration.

Now we will look at some other extraordinary Brazilian dishes which you should not miss:

• Carne de Sol- It is a form of dehydrated beef. In earlier days, the beef was preserved with salt- curing and drying in sun and wind. Before preparing the dish, the beef is rehydrated for moistening it and removing the saltiness. Then it is added to stews, soups or other meat dishes.

• Pao de queijo- It is cheese bread, a popular snack that can be enjoyed as morning breakfast, at noon or at dinner. This delicious chewy snack is made by mixing cassava flour with mild cheese and then baked to deliciousness. You will find them in almost all bakeries of Rio. Eat them hot and fresh and the taste is sure to linger in your mind for a long time.

• Feijoada- Brazil’s national dish, feijoda is a black bean soup containing beef or pork and served with toppings like coarsely ground cassava flour, bits of crunchy fried pork rind, or other toppings, with hot sauce to spice it up to irresistibility.

For accommodation in Rio, an apartment will be your best option. Apartments in Rio offer excellent services and features which are going to make your journey an unforgettable experience.