100 Things to Love About Brazil (Part 1 of 10)

In honor of the World Cup in Brazil this year, here are 100 Things to Love About Brazil: some facts, pictures, and commentary from an American living in Brazil. 

In no particular order:  

1. Soccer and the World Cup

Soccer is by far the most popular sport in Brazil.  The national team has won 5 World Cup titles -- more than any other country.  The World Cup isn't just a tournament in Brazil, it's more like a month of Superbowls.  When Brazil is playing, normal life pauses.  Schools let their students out, banks and stores close, and people get off from work early in order to experience the entire game with the hopes of hearing the famous cry: GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!  If Brazil scores, a local series of  LOUD fireworks is sure to follow.  Will this be the year that Brazil adds a 6th star to its jersey?

2. The Flag

Arguably one of the most recognizable flags in the world, the Brazilian flag's unique design and color scheme set it apart.  Only 25% of national flags do not include the color red and only a few include writing. 

At first glace the design could appear to be a blue soccer ball floating over a grassy field, but the green and yellow colors actually correspond to the colors of the first ruling families.  The blue circle represents the night sky over Rio de Janeiro the night the flag was adopted, November 15, 1889.   The 27 stars correspond to the 26 States in Brazil, plus one for the Federal District.  The banner includes the words "ORDEM E PROGRESSO" in Portuguese, literally "Order and Progress." 

3. The National Anthem

To listen to the Brazilian national anthem, click below:

Nothing gets you into a patriotic mood quite like this catchy beat.  Must be sung with gusto.  

4. The Language

Let's clear this up right off the bat, the national language of Brazil is not Spanish, but Portuguese.  Although there are around 180 indigenous languages in Brazil, roughly 99.9% of Brazilians speak Portuguese.  It is one of the most monolingual countries in the world, surpassing the U.S.  If you travel to Brazil, be sure to learn a few words and phrases in Portuguese or you might be in trouble.

The language is a beautiful rhythmic romance language, phonetically written and easy to read once you learn the phonological rules.  Stay tuned for a future post on how to pronounce Brazilian Portuguese.  

5. The Currency

The currency of Brazil is the Real.  "Real" in Portuguese is pronounced as "hey-ALL" (sorry linguistic friends, pronunciation not written in IPA).  More than one real is called reais (pronounced "hey-EYES").  Each bill is a different color and includes a unique animal on the back.  In 2010, the 1 Real note was discontinued, replaced by the 1 Real coin which was already in circulation.  There are also other coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos.  There is no longer a one centavo coin.  

For the current U.S. Dollar - Brazilian Real exchange rate, click here.

6. The Capital -- Brasília

Brasília is one of the most unique cities in the world.  In the mid-50s Brazil decided to move its capital from Rio de Janeiro, a city in the Southern commercial district to a more centralized location, safer from maritime raids.  Instead of developing an existing city, an entirely new location was chosen, designed, developed, and constructed in 41 months. And if you're going to design a city, why not make it look like an airplane?  See it?

7. The Terrain

Covering nearly half of South America, Brazil has several types of terrain including tropical rainforest, grasslands, coastal, and savannas.  It is home to the majority of the Amazon Rainforest which represents over half of the remaining tropical rainforest in the world.

8. The Natural Wonders

From the Amazon River to the breathtaking waterfalls of Foz de Iguaçu to the iconic harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is rich in natural beauty.  Be sure to add visiting some of Brazil's natural wonders to your bucket list.     

9. The Wildlife

Brazil is one of the most biodiverse places on earth.  It ranks first for greatest number of unique species of both mammals and freshwater fish, 2nd for reptiles, and 3rd for birds.  Who doesn't love to see a macaw or a toucan flying by?  

10. The Culture

Brazil's rich culture comes from its ethnically diverse population.  Starting with the indigenous population, the country was then settled by the Portuguese, followed by a slave trade from Africa.  The country later went on to receive immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world.  It's no wonder that Brazil is a melting pot of different cultures and peoples.  An interesting example of this is that it is not completely uncommon to find individuals with dark skin and blue eyes.  From the world famous Carnaval to the Indigenous Kuarup festival, Brazil has a little bit of everything.     

100 Things to Love About Brazil (Part 2 of 10)

Brazil may not share America's love of peanut butter, Mexican food, and cheddar cheese yet, but it does have its share of great food.  Here are a few:    

11.  Pão Francês -- French Bread

What's better than hot, straight-out-of-the-oven French bread?  Available at supermarkets and neighborhood bakeries all day long, pão francês is a staple for breakfast and light evening meals.         

12. Pão de Queijo -- Cheese Bread

Another breakfast and snack favorite, pão de queijo or cheese bread, is made from manioc flour.  These chewy bite size balls of cheesy goodness can be addicting.  

13. Cafezinho

What trip to the supermarket or store would be complete without a free shot of espresso?  

14. Beans and Rice

The staple of the Brazilian diet, beans and rice are served for the main noon meal everyday.  Both pinto and black beans are common.  For beans with all the "trimmings", enjoy a serving of feijoada, made with black beans cooked with beef and pork.       

15. Farofa

Toasted manioc flour served with rice and beans.  It can be mixed with a little bit of everything -- bacon, green onions, eggs, raisins, carrots, bananas, you name it!    

16. Vinagrete

Made from tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, vinegar, and salt, vinagrete is like a fresh Mexican salsa without the heat.  Its zestiness makes it a great side for churrasco or Brazilian BBQ.  

17. Mandioca -- Manioc

Another great Brazilian side is cooked manioc.  Although simply boiled is the most common, one of the tastiest ways to enjoy mandioca is deep fried like french fries.  

18.  Beef

Beef is a big deal in Brazil.  From everyday meals to social events, beef is the main attraction.  If you're learning to speak Portuguese, perhaps some of the first vocabulary words you will learn are the names of the different cuts of beef.  Brazil even has an extra cut called cupim which is the hump over the cow's back.  Think of the tenderness of Grandma's pot roast yet cooked over an open fire.   

19. Guaraná

Brazil may not have Mountain Dew or Root Beer, but it does have Guaraná.  A soda made from the guaraná fruit and packed with caffine, its taste is unique and extremely popular.  Think Vernors in color, but with a subtle fruity flavor.   

20. The Fruit

Brazil is one of the top fruit producing countries in the world.  It is home to hundreds of varieties of fruits including rarities such as cupuaçu, jabuticaba, and acaí.  

Have you had a fresh picked mango, papaya, or guava lately?

100 Things to Love About Brazil (Part 3 of 10)

Brazilian cuisine is not simply about the taste, but about the experience.

21.  Churrascarias

The world famous Brazilian churrascaria is an all-you-can-eat meat buffet and not for vegetarians.  Skewers of grilled meat, right off the spit, are served and carved at your table.  Churrascarias serve several cuts of beef such as picanha (shown above), cupim, and filé, as well as pork, chicken wrapped in bacon, chicken hearts, pork, and lamb.  Brazil may not be considered a first world country yet, but it could be considered a first world problem when you have to turn down an offer of filet mignon because you've eaten too much meat.  Also, not to be missed, the grilled cheese, bread, and pineapple with cinnamon.  

22. Churrasco 

The at-home version of a churrascaria, churrasco, or Brazilian BBQ is very popular for social gatherings.  Cuts of meat are seasoned with rock salt, grilled to perfection, and then cut into bite size pieces.  It is typically served with rice, farofa, mandioca, and vinegrete.  

23.  X-Tudo -- The Everything Hamburger

Going out for an evening snack?  Most likely you'll find yourself at a lanchonete that serves Brazilian hamburgers. However, these aren't your average burger.  These two-handed sandwiches can have any combination of filet mignon, hamburger patties, bacon, hotdogs, ham, fried eggs, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, corn, peas, and shoe string potatoes. Also known as a baguncinha, which literally means little mess, it's not hard to see how it got its name.  

24. Pasteis

Deep-fried pockets of meat and cheese.  What's not to love?  Dessert versions also available.

25.  Salgadinhos

These deep fried treats are perfect for parties and large gatherings.  Filled with shredded chicken, ground beef, and cheese, who can eat just one?  

26.  Brigadeiros

Made from chocolate powder and cooked sweetened condensed milk, these decadent bite size sweets are popular at birthday parties.  

27. Pudim

Made from sweetened condensed milk and topped with caramelized sugar, pudim is the Brazilian version of Mexican flan, but with a hole in the middle (and better).

28. Creme de Leite (Table Cream) and 
Sweetened Condensed Milk

It seems that almost any Brazilian dessert contains one or both of these.  You can even mix them together to make ice cream.

29. Brazilian Pizza

Brazilian pizzas usually have less tomato sauce than their American counterparts, but the topping options are considerably more creative.  Besides typical American pizza toppings, Brazilian pizzas may have tuna, hard boiled eggs, corn, peas, jerky, shrimp, chicken hearts, broccoli, palm hearts, and shoe string potatoes.  Brazilians eat pizza with a fork and a knife and frequently complement their slice with ketchup and mayonnaise.

30. Pizza Buffets 

Can't decide if you want to try the tuna or chicken heart pizza?  Why not visit a Brazilian pizza buffet?  A variety of pizzas are served right to your table.  Ready for dessert?  Brazilian sweet pizzas can include toppings such as banana with cinnamon, sweetened condensed milk with coconut, chocolate sauce with chocolate sprinkles and strawberries, and sometimes even topped with ice cream.

100 Things to Love About Brazil (Part 4 of 10)

31. The Beach



With over 4650 miles of coastline, it's not surprising that Brazil has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  Ipanema or Copacabana anyone?

32. Fresh Coconut



There's nothing quite as refreshing as a fresh coconut on a hot day.

33. Hammocks



Used at home and on trips, hammocks are a great way to sleep or just relax.  The key is to lie diagonally.

34. Warm Weather Year Around

Although some areas of Brazil can see frost, the majority of Brazil experiences warm summer temperatures all year long.  If you've ever bundled up in several layers in order to brave the elements of a winter snowstorm, you know what a blessing it is to wear sandals all the time.  Ready to hit the beach or the pool?
   

35. Dry Season / Rainy Season

Although there are technically traditional seasons, the seasons actually observed are dry season and rainy season.  For roughly six months of the year, it may rain almost everyday while the other half of the year won't see a drop of rain.  For several months you don't have to worry about having an umbrella.  However, when the first rain of the season finally arrives, it doesn't matter what you are doing, you will take a minute to enjoy the sound and feel of fresh rain. 

  

36.  Consistent Weather

Have you ever watched The Truman Show about a man who lives in a perfectly controlled environment?  At one point Truman watches the weather report in which he hears something like it will be sunny with a high and low of 72 degrees.  That's somewhat what it's like to watch the weather report in Brazil.  In some evening news broadcasts, a newscaster will go to the map and point to different areas and say, "Sunny..sunny...sunny...sunny...this whole state: partly cloudy...and this half of the country: chance of afternoon showers."  Skilled meteorologists are not such a commodity here.  From this weather map of Brazil I'd say it's going to be partly cloudy, what do you think?  The snowman in the map probably means it will be under 50 degrees.  With no central heat, that's cold! 

37. The Agriculture

Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee, and has been for the last 150 years.  It produces roughly a third of the world's coffee.  Endless summer translates into a long growing season.  Some farms are even able to harvest three crops within a year.  Besides coffee, Brazil's main crops are soybeans, sugarcane, oranges, corn, wheat, and rice. 

      

38.  Its Size

Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world and covers over half of South America.  It is larger than the continental United States and almost as large as all of Europe.  You can travel for days without leaving the country.  With a land area this big, there is a lot to see and do.

39. It is Environmentally Friendly

In 2006 Brazil became energy independent.  Not only that, but one of its main exports is energy in the form of sugarcane ethanol.  Roughly 90% of new cars sold in Brazil are flex-fuel vehicles.  Brazil is also an innovator of flex-fuel motorcycles and buses.  The vast majority of Brazil's energy is generated from renewable sources and over 75% of Brazil's electricity comes from hydroelectric dams.

It's estimated that Brazilians consume approximately 80% less electricity per capita than Americans.  Thanks to a warm climate, many Brazil households manage without central air or heat, hot water heaters, dishwashers, and clothes dryers.  This translates to significantly lower energy bills.

40. Few Natural Disasters

Brazil is blessed with great weather and for its size, suffers from a surprisingly low number of natural disasters.  Although occasional flooding can occur in some areas, the country as a whole enjoys an existence virtually free from hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and tsunamis.  It's no wonder that there is the saying in Brazil, "Deus é Brasileiro" or "God is Brazilian."

100 Things to Love about Brazil (Part 5 of 10)

41. Brazilian Citizenship

 Regardless of the nationality of the parents, every baby born in Brazil automatically receives Brazilian citizenship.

42. Preferential Treatment

If you're over 60 years old, pregnant, disabled, or have a small child, you have the right to go to the front of just about any line!

43. School Uniforms

The majority of schools in Brazil have uniforms.  Most uniforms consist of a white shirt with the school's emblem plus matching shorts or jeans.  Although some students may not appreciate the advantages of school uniforms, one benefit is not having to decide what to wear to school each day.  

44. Half Days of School

Students in kindergarten through high school enjoy a 4-hour school day.  This allows schools to save money by accommodating more students in the same facility.  Students may attend class in the morning or afternoon, and many high school students have class in the evening.  To make up for the fewer hours of class time per day, Brazilian schools are required to be in session 200 days per year versus only 180 in the United States.  

45.  T.N.T. Cloth

These next two materials are found in the States, they are not used to the extent that they are in Brazil.  

T.N.T. stands for tecido não tecido or cloth not cloth.  Similar to the material of disposable hospital booties in the States, this disposable yet durable fabric is widely used in decorating and school crafts.  It can even be used to create make-shift costumes.

46. E.V.A. Foam

Need to decorate something?  Why not use E.V.A. foam?  From hats to flowers, notebook covers to posters, Brazilian creativity shines through with this material.  Many elementary school teachers will decorate a notebook for each of their students and put all of the child's assignments in it during the year.

46. School Year Follows Calendar Year

Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite those of the Northern Hemisphere.  This means that Brazil enjoys Summer during December and January.  The Brazilian school year follows the calendar year in that it starts in January and February and ends in December.  A short Winter break usually falls in July.

48.  Free College

Most public universities in Brazil offer free tuition!  However, perspective students must pass a grueling entrance exam which can last up to three days.  At some prestigious universities, hundreds of students may vie for a few openings. Students must also commit to a major before they are even accepted to a college and must pass the entrance exam related to that field.  In order to change majors, students must retake the entrance exam.

49. Paid Vacation and Holidays

Compared to the United State's measly average of 16 vacation days, Brazil grants its workers 30 paid vacation days per year, plus holidays.  Interestingly, time off typically must be taken in increments of 10 days or longer.      

50. 13th Month Bonus

Somewhat like the American Christmas bonus some employees receive in the States, many Brazilian workers are paid what is called a 13th month bonus.  Instead of an arbitrary amount based on the benevolence of the employer, the 13th month bonus is actually part of the labor law and is equivalent to one month's pay.