Brazil – the legendary hub of world-renowned beaches, football, carnival and samba, but for the foodies out there, there are a world of culinary experiences not to be missed.

My top 10 are all based on my own experiences. If you’ve read my ‘about’ section, you’ll know that I spent a year living in Rio whilst studying for a degree in Spanish and Portuguese.

When I say ‘foodie experiences’, I’m going beyond your typical ’10 dishes to try when you visit…’. Yes, recommending the ‘what’ to eat is important, but where you eat it and when you eat it are equally as important and can really transform your whole experience.

So, if you get the chance to travel to this fascinating country, don’t let these foodie bucket list opportunities pass you by…

1 – Grab a refreshing, revitalising açaí on the beach

Many of us now recognise the açaí berry (ass-eye-ee) as one of the top superfoods nowadays and there’s no better way to enjoy it than through the delicious frozen pulp pots that you can find on more or less any street or beach in Brazil. Grab one from Ipanema or Copacabana and let the sweet treat restore the energy drained by the raging 40 degree midday sun. You can choose your own combo of toppings, often including granola, honey and other sauces, and fruits such as banana and strawberry.

2 – Test your limits at an all-you-can-eat meat feast

The rodizio is a common concept in Brazil – all you can eat for a set price, but it has more than just a buffet feel to it. In the churrascarias, waiters appear at your table with an endless cycle of every cut of meat you could possibly imagine. The challenge here is only allowing yourself a bite of each one so you can try everything without peaking too soon and filling up. Churrascaria Palace in Copacabana offers one of the most authentic, and not particularly pricey Churrasco experiences.

3 – Explore the country’s impressive sushi scene

One of Brazil’s lesser known secrets is that it has great sushi due to the significant Japanese population who live there – mainly in São Paulo. Traditional Japanese sushi has become infused with Brazil’s tropical ingredients creating an interesting fusion style. You can try it out in the Liberdade region of São Paulo, but if you can’t quite make it that far, Brazilian sushi restaurant Temakinho has two locations in London.

Banana salmon rolls at Temakinho

4 – Prepare your stomach for a hearty meal of feijoada

 Brazil’s traditional dish feijoada is a delicious, and pretty heavy, stew of black beans and bits of beef and pork meat, including ribs, trimmings (ears, tail, feet), bacon, sausage and jerked beef. I promise it’s tastier than it sounds. It’s normally served with rice, greens and farofa (toasted cassava), and is best enjoyed in a local botequim. Bar e Restaurante Os Ximenes right by the colourful Selaron Steps in Lapa, Rio, is the perfect place to indulge alongside the locals.

5 – Grab a salgado on the go

Salgado (literally ‘salty’) is a generic word for a savoury snack, often deep fried or served in pastry. There are hundreds of cheap, casual eateries on street corners throughout Rio where you can find a huge range of these kinds of treats. Favourites include folhados – a puff pastry pocket packed with fillings such as cheese or prawns, coxinhas  – shredded chicken covered in dough, battered, and fried, and pastéis – thin-crust deep fried pastry with fillings such as chicken or palm hearts (palmitos).

6 – Visit a friend for a home-cooked meal

When it comes to foodie experiences, sometimes there’s nothing better than enjoying a quality home-cooked meal, prepared by someone who knows best. Whether it’s Moqueca in Bahia (tomato coconut fish stew) or frango com quiabo (chicken with Okra), it will be an experience you won’t forget anytime soon.

7 – Curb your cravings with an espetinho at a street party

Espetinhos are simple – a skewer of grilled meat or fish, most often prepared on tiny stalls that pop up during street gatherings all over the city. It might not be the most tender meat, or have the most mouth-watering flavours, but after a few Caipirinhas at midnight when your stomach is calling, there’s nothing more satisfying than this popular street food. You can grab one from around Pedra do Sal or Baixo Gávea in Rio after a night of drinking, dancing, music and socialising.

8 – Visit São Paulo’s Mercado Municipal for a mega Sanduíche de Mortadela

The Mercado Municipal is the most popular food market in the city, enjoyed by both tourists and locals. Head down to the covered indoor market for a display of the city’s most appetising treats. One of those is the giant sanduíche de Mortadela – French bread filled with Mortadela ham and optional extras including cheese, bacon and caramelised onion.

9 – Drink the night away with a Caipirinha or two

Brazil’s national cocktail, famous worldwide, is made up of cachaça (a spirit made from fermented sugarcane juice), lime, sugar and crushed ice. You’ll have to close your eyes as street vendors shovel in the sugar because there is HEAPS of it. Non-traditional Capirinhas can also be made with other fruits such as strawberry and passionfruit, and there is even a variant made with vodka (Caipivodka) instead of cachaça.

10 – Hunt your own dinner with Piranha fishing in the Amazon

Perhaps not one for the vegetarians out there, but what could be more exciting than catching your own dinner to then have it freshly prepared for you. After the absolutely non-existent foodie scene in the base city of Manaus, by the time you reach the Amazon you’ll be gagging for some decent food. Piranha might not be the tastiest of the seafood variety, but the process from fishing to plate is definitely an experience not to be missed.

So there you have it – a Brazilian bucket list to work your way through. When it comes to eating, context can make all the difference – the what, where, when, who with and whys. Our foodie experiences encompass so much more than just what we’re eating, and this can take you from a simple, average meal to an unforgettable gastronomic opportunity!