Brazil

The cuisines of Brazil, the largest country in South America, are as diverse as its people. Churrasco, a cowboy-style barbecue created by cattle-herding horsemen of the country’s south, enjoys great popularity in the whole country. Along the southern coastline of Bahia, the food reflects a rich and tropical cuisine with African influences. Common ingredients include coconut milk, malagueta peppers, dried shrimp, okra, and dende oil. The cuisines of the Amazon reflect the richness of the region. Rare fish, exotic plants, and super fruits, like açai berries, acerola, and passion fruit, provide a rewarding playground for creative chefs. The arid regions northeast of the Amazon offer the perfect terroir for salted or sundried meats. Various flours, made from fermented or unfermented manioc, known as farinhas, are another important staple.