ABSTRACT
In this chapter we continue our collaboration with Professor Macedo by examining how the main ethnic groups (Indigenous peoples, Europeans, and Africans) have influenced every aspect of Brazilian culture including food production and consumption. Food shapes the history of a people and its civilization in multiple ways. It engages our emotions and our senses of sight, touch, smell, and taste. It gives us a way to interpret memories and a frame within which we can expand our understanding of social, cultural, economic, and historical contexts. By studying the food production and consumption practices of a people, we can learn about its culture, history, circumstances, needs, perceptions, and values. We provide an overview of regional differences in Brazilian cuisine while continuing to introduce food that is loved nationwide. Additionally, we present two important drinks, cafezinho and caipirinha, essential to the understanding of Brazilian society. We conclude with recipes for a feijoada completa, designed to challenge your culinary abilities and give you a taste of some of Brazil’s most celebrated dishes. With the feijoada completa, we bring full circle Brazil’s music, food, and the contributions of the three core ethnic groups: Indigenous people, Africans, and Europeans.
