The Fruits of Brazil

I really love living in Brazil. One of the major reasons are the many fruits that can only be found in Brazil. Here is my list of favorites:

1. Agua de Coco. This is the water inside of the coconut. After I run in the morning, I drink about 1.5 liters of agua de coco during the cool down period. It tastes so good. Plus it is very good for you. Agua de coco is high in sodium and pottasium, and very low in calories and fat. When in the United States, I could not find agua de coco anywhere, so I usually drink GatorAde or PowerAde. I actually think that agua de coco is a superior and natural energy drink. It sounds corny but agua de coco truly quenches my thirst, where as GatorAde just satisfied the thirst. Here’s my tip for agua de coco. Never drink at room temperature. It must be cold and the colder the better.

You also can get it on the beach. There they take a large knife to the top of the coconut, and then you drink it through a straw. Note: if the beach is crowded, quite often the coconuts will not be very cold and it is a little less than satisfying.

2. Açaí. This is a fruit about the size of a grape, and the pulp is mashed and frozen and shipped throughout the country. You can buy it in any super market. It is also a favorite at the many juice stands throughout the city. There is only one word for this drink/slurpee, delicious. Lately, I have been making it at home. Here’s my recipe. Take two packages of frozen açaí, and smash them gently with a small hammer. I use the side of a meat tenderizer. Be gentle because you don’t want to break the package just smash up the frozen stuff. Then put it in the blender until the açaí is small and a little dusty. Then throw in a banana, and mix it with the açaí. Take it out of the blender and place it in a bowl and mix in two tablespoons of guaraná syrup and granola to taste. Then start eating! Just thinking about it now, makes me want to go to the kitchen and make another one.

3. Maracujá. This is a bitter fruit about the size of a wrinkled pear. For lunch, we make it into a juice mixed with water and lots of sugar to remove the bitterness. Nice and refreshing.

4. Pineapple. This is of course not unique to Brazil, but in my experience some of the finest pineapple in the world is from Brazil. The question at hand is whether the pineapple is sweet and juicy. From my experience in both the United States and Brazil, Brazil wins hands down. Not all pineapples are good, but the probability is very high in Brazil (~80%) that you get a sweet and juicy pineapple, where as in the US I would guess the number is a lot less than 50%.

5. Caipivodka de Morango. This is one of my favorite alcoholic drinks in Brazil. It is easy to make but not available in the US. First you mash up some strawberries very fine, and then put them in the blender. Liberally throw in vodka, and serve over ice. Note: it normally comes with sugar in it, but I request it without sugar and put in sweet-and-low at the table.

I also have a list of fruits that are better in the United States. Oranges and sweet corn (in season) are a lot better in the US.