Money | Time | Electricity | Language | Climate | Tipping/Taxes
Food and Drink | Clothing | Shopping | Security
Brazilian Food and Drink - The most common dishes feature various meats, rice and the ubiquitous Brazilian black beans (feijão), while restaurants often lay on all-you-can-eat barbecues and buffets. Brazil also has many regional varieties of cookery. An example is the Bahian cookery, which includes dishes such as : Vatapa (shrimps, fish oil, coconut milk, bread and rice), Sarapatel (liver, heart, tomatoes, peppers, onions and gravy). From Rio Grandes do Sol a typical dish is Churrasco (barbecue beef, tomato and onion sauce). From the Amazon comes Tacaca (thick soup with shrimps and garlic). All kinds of alcoholic drinks are available, including excellent lager style beers: Skol, Brahma, Antarctica and Cerpa. The most popular local firewater is Cachaca, most commonly served as 'Caipirinha' with slices of lime. There are no restrictions on licensing hours. Soft drinks include Guarana (a carbonated cola-like drink) and many varieties of excellent fruit-juices (sucos) including several vitamin-rich fruits you will never have heard of. Coffee tends to be served as a very strong, very sweet drink, but if you want to avoid sugar in sucos or coffee you should specifically ask.
Clothing - Brazil's climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south. Throughout the country, however, dress is informal. Generally, light cotton shirts, shorts, dresses and trousers are ideal for day wear, while in the evenings long-sleeved shirts and leather shoes are normal. You will not normally need a jacket and tie in Brazil. In their winter (June/July) it is worth taking an extra layer, or something warm, as the temperature can be quite cool in the south of the country.
Shopping - As with the food, in a country the size of Brazil there are many local specialities for the shopper. In most major cities, shops and markets stay open until late (up to 10.00pm). Rio and the south specialize in antiques and jewelry - special purchases include gems (particularly emeralds) and jewelry (particularly silver). In the north east specialities include laces, linen and ceramics.
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