BRAZIL – interesting facts and trivia Fast Facts

Brazil, a vast South American country, stretches from the Amazon Basin in the north to vineyards and massive Iguaçu Falls in the south. , symbolized by its 38m Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Corcovado, is famed for its busy Copacabana and Ipanema beaches as well as its enormous, raucous ‘Carnaval’ festival, featuring floats, flamboyant costumes, music and dance. Population: 200.4 million Capital: Brasília

Language: Portuguese Religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: Real

Terrain mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Natural bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth resources elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Agricultural 32.9% land

Industries textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Exports $189.1 billion (2015 est.) transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, automobiles

Imports $174.2 billion (2015 est.) machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese.

 Brazil shares a border with all South American countries except for Chile and Ecuador.  Brazil covers 3 time zones.  Brazil has one of the largest economies in the world.  Brazil is one of the 77 founding members of the United Nations.  The Amazon River flows through Brazil, it is the 2nd longest river in the world (after the Nile).  Around 60% of the Amazon Rainforest is located in Brazil.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Interesting facts about Brazil The country of Brazil occupies half of South America’s total landmass.

4,600 miles of Brazil’s coastline lies on the Atlantic Ocean.

Brazil is void of deserts, high-mountain and arctic environments.

Brazil was once ruled by the Portuguese.

The Portuguese established sugar plantations in Brazil during the 16th century. The word “Brazil,” meaning “red like an ember,” comes from pau brasil (brazilwood), a tree that once grew abundantly along the Brazilian coast that produced a deep, red dye. Rio de Janeiro means "January River" and it was called that by mistake. A Portuguese explorer thought the bay was the mouth of a river. The Macaw is the national animal of Brazil. The main exporter of Brazil nuts is not Brazil. It's Bolivia.

Brazil’s first national parks were created in the late 1930s.

Brazil discovered gold for the first time in 1695, and furnished a large portion of the world’s gold reserve during the 18th century. Brazilian prisoners can reduce their sentence by 4 days every month for every book they read and write a report about. Prisoners in Brazil could also pedal a stationary bicycle in the prison to provide electricity to a nearby town. This would help reduce their sentence by a few days. If you were to buy an Apple iPhone in Brazil, you would have to pay almost twice the price for the phone as if you had bought it in the United States.

Brazil once listed an aircraft carrier for sale on eBay. There's a 10,000-seat replica of Solomon's Temple in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazil distributes women's breast milk around the country to babies whose mothers can't provide it for them. Brazilian women only spend about an hour and a half a week on housework. Brazil has been the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years. The Bororo people of Brazil are one of the few groups of people where all have the same blood type - "O". There's a city in Brazil called "Nao-Me-Toque" meaning "Don't Touch Me." In 1958, a rhinoceros was a candidate in the city council elections in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Henry Ford tried to build an American industrialist utopia in the Brazilian jungle, "Fordlandia", to secure a source of cultivated rubber for his cars. 92% of all new sold cars in Brazil use ethanol as fuel, which is produced from sugar cane. Registered Charity no. 295198 Facts about the Brazilian economy, history and tourism On January 1, 1502 the first official tourist arrived in Brazil. The bay where they landed was named Rio de Janeiro (Bay of January). According to a report, 6 million tourists visit Brazil every year. ‘Rubber’ made Brazil a wealthy nation during the late 18th century. You probably know that Rio de Janeiro hosts the world’s largest celebrations each year. But did you know that the city’s nickname is Cidade Maravilhosa – the Marvellous City? Or that it is considered the cultural capital of Brazil?

The 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was the first time a South American country had the right to host them. It occupies the ninth spot on the list of the most billionaires in the world. Due to financial crises in 1932, Brazilian athletes had to sell coffee on their way to the Los Angeles Olympics. The country has been the world’s largest exporter of coffee for 150 years. In areas around Brazil and Argentina, the earth’s magnetic field has been found to be weakening, specifically for the last 180 years. An island in Brazil called Snake Island has up to 5 snakes per square meter. Civilians are not allowed to visit the island. Sao Paulo is known for traffic jams. A record was set in 2013 when a 309 km long traffic queue developed during evening rush hour. Did you know that voting is mandatory in Brazil? Brazil has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are more species of monkeys in Brazil than in any other nation. The biggest African city outside Africa – Salvador – is in Brazil.

Brazilian culture facts The world’s largest population of Catholics (73.6%) lives in Brazil. They make up 64% of its population.

The country containing the largest number of Japanese people outside Japan is Brazil.

There are still 70 still-to-be contacted tribes living in the Brazilian Amazon.

At least 180 languages are spoken in Brazil.

It is a ritual in Brazil for boys to bear the pain from Bullet Ants before they are declared adults. Their hands are put in gloves filled with these ants. Boys are required to withstand the pain for at least 10 minutes, and they have to pass this test 20 times before being declared adults.

Free sex-change operations are provided by the Brazilian public health system. They recognize this as a constitutional right.

The largest number of species of mammals, plants and fresh water fish are found in Brazil.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Sand dunes in Brazil can reach a height of 40 meters.

Brazil has thirteen cities with a population of more than one million people.

The ‘Itaipu Dam’ in Brazil is the second-largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. It is 7.7 kilometers long and 196 meters high. It is located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay.

What Animals Live In The Amazon Rainforest? Living in the Amazon Rainforest you will find over 2,000 species of animals.

The Amazon Rainforest, also known as the Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is the largest rainforest on earth and is home to 427 mammals (e.g. jaguar, sloth, and river dolphin), 1,300 birds (e.g. macaw ), 378 reptiles (e.g. anaconda and Jesus lizard ), more than 400 amphibians (e.g. glass frog and poison dart frog). It covers 40% of the South American continent and can be found within the following countries: Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname as well as in French Guiana, a department of France. The Amazon consists of several ecosystems and vegetation types and is very species-rich. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon Rainforest as do one in five known bird species. It is home to about 2,000 birds and mammals and here we will discover a few well known species currently living in the Amazon Rainforest. That's not to say, however, that the rest of South America doesn't have some unique and intriguing species of its own. Capybara The Capybara is similar in appearance to cavies and guinea pigs. Barrel-shaped and covered in dark red and brown fur, adult capybaras stand around 2 feet tall at the shoulders on all fours, are in excess of 4 feet long, and may weigh close to 150 pounds, making them massive for rodents. Semi-aquatic rodents by nature, they make themselves quite at home amidst the Amazonian wetlands.

Giant Anteater As their name implies, this variety of sloths loves to chow down on bugs, including ants. In fact, their tubular snouts and long tongues are especially well-suited for gorging upon insects practically wherever they may be. These creatures carry the “Giant” moniker as they are much larger than other anteaters, reaching over 7 feet in length. Also unique among anteaters and sloths in general, Giant Anteaters prefer to stay out of the trees and stick to the rainforest floor to roam in search of their next insectivorous meal.

Green Iguana A favorite pet of many people around the world. The Green Iguana is sometimes simply referred to as the Common Iguana or just Iguana. Unlike many of their reptilian cousins, these lizards prefer to eat greens, fruits, forbs, and flowers instead of insects and other animals’ flesh. A large lizard, Green Iguanas may grow to almost 6 feet in length from head to tail.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Harpy Eagle These beautiful raptors live across much of Central America in addition to the Amazonian jungles. Despite being skilled hunters and apex predators, they face significant threats from human activities, especially those related to habitat loss as large swaths of the Amazon Rainforest are cleared for land development. Sexually dimorphic and weighing up to 20 pounds, female Harpy Eagles may be twice as large as their male companions.

Golden Lion Tamarin This bizarre animal is actually a monkey that derives its name from the great cats because of its impressive mane. It is comprised of abundance thick rings of beautiful golden hair surrounding its respectable and charismatic black face. The Golden Lion Tamarin can grow 6 to 10 inches long, while its tail can be even longer at 12 to 15 inches! Females often give birth to twins where the male fathers play a critical role in caring for the babies, carrying their offspring on their back in between feedings. They sleep in tree holes during the night and is active during day time, living in groups of 2 to 8 which constitutes their families, and make use of scent marks or songs to make their presence known on their territories. Anaconda The world's largest and heaviest, most powerful snake, and may be the most famed as well, the Anaconda can grow as long as 30 feet and weigh up to 550 pounds! They grow constantly their entire lifetime in this case, eating about 40 pounds of prey every day as small meals, while larger meals that they swallow whole can satisfy them for a few weeks. A female anaconda is typically larger and gives birth to live young which count 20 to 40 little anacondas that are each 2 feet long! Peanut Head Bug Also known as the lantern fly, flying snake, alligator bug, or snake cicada, among many other names, the peanut head bug is deemed a mysterious creation. Weird as it looks, this insect has a head that closely resembles an unshelled peanut! It has an enlarged head with a bulbous protuberance popping on it, which even scientists are uncertain of what it does. They believe that it can possibly mimic a lizard's head to pave the way towards escaping predators. It's wings are unique in a way that the spots appear like an owl's eyes. Some myths say that it's bite can be deadly depending on the mood of these wings. Truth is, the peanut head bug would be apparently defenseless in itself and is simply a harmless plant-hopper. Glass Frog The skin of the glass frog is translucent though it is mostly lime green. You can see its abdomen, heart, liver, and various other organs if you care to look, as if you have been granted X-Ray vision! These queer creatures couldn't care less about their young, leaving eggs atop the leaves of trees overhanging the river, such that the tadpoles freely flow from the trees and directly into the water upon hatching.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Jesus Lizard This reptile is not really bizarre in terms of performing miracles, but is called Jesus Lizard for being able to run on water! Catholic explorers found it similar to the Gospel story of Jesus who walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. When fleeing from predators, it can literally run on the surface of water such as a pond or stream at a speed of 5 miles per hour, and for up to a distance of 20 meters. This common basilisk can do this incredible stunt with its toes that possess a special webbing, allowing it to stand upon its two hind feet.

Kinkajou The kinkajou, a relative of he raccoon, have a furry golden skin and a tail designed to grip branches. More commonly known as bear-monkey, honey bear or lion monkey, the Kinkajou is rarely seen due to being a nocturnal creature which clings on the top of trees, sticking their 5-inch long tongues out for picking hanging ripe fruits. They love to drink the nectar of flowers and has a diet consisting of 90 percent fruits, but still, they are considered carnivores. They are sometimes kept as pets even when they can be dangerous to their owners for potentially carrying the roundworm parasite. Sloth One of the most unusual animals on earth, the Sloth is known for being the slow animal. This mammal is lagging in everything, from its movement which entails sleeping for 10 hours a day and bulging only as necessary, to its metabolism which can take their bodies a month to digest food! Moreover, a sloth's main diet is mostly only leaves chewed by it's tongue that is around 10 to 12 inches long. It's not surprising that two-thirds of their whole body is made up of the contents of their stomach! Their body temperature is really low at only 86 degrees Fahrenheit (merely 30 degrees Celsius). Poison Dart Frog The poison dart frog, contrary to its name, may not be deadly at all, as only 3 species are actually lethal, of which the golden poison arrow frog is the most dangerous. Set aside this possibility, they look vibrant and attractive arriving in a myriad of colors including the aforementioned gold, yellow, red, copper, green, black or blue which they utilize in a tactic to ward off predators called aposematic coloration.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Amazon River Dolphin The most famous inhabitants of the Amazon River is no other than the Amazon River Dolphin, or Boto, which looks pretty in pink and can grow even bigger than humans! Their distinct color is said to be due to their blood capillaries located near the surface of the skin. What's more interesting is that legend tells of these fascinating creatures transforming themselves into the form of a man at nighttime, to hypnotize their prospect of young and beautiful woman! Macaw Native to the jungles of South America, Macaws are social birds usually seen traveling in flocks in sizes of 10 to 30 of them each, and are loyal to their lifelong mates. They are beautifully colored birds that hold a vibrant plumage. Their beaks are quite powerful and can effortlessly crack nuts and seeds, while their scaly tongues are dry and contains a bone, which is mostly used for tapping into fruits. Some macaws can even mimic human speech!

Jaguar Thought to be the real king of the jungle, the jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas, though it ranks third in the entire world, behind only the lion and tiger. Their spots, which highly resemble roses, render them distinctive from other big cats, A jaguar has the strongest bite force of all of these predatory felines, with its incredibly powerful jaws incomparable to those of any other cat. With this bite, the jaguar is found possessing the capability of piercing a skull and breaking a sea turtle's shell. This animal is a solitary killer, and will typically scale and climb trees to use as a vantage point when hunting prey prior to pouncing upon their targets.

Communities in the Amazon Rainforest Present-day estimates suggest that there may have been around five million people living in the Amazon Basin in the sixteenth century AD, but by the early 1980s this number had dwindled (diminish gradually in size, amount or strength) to fewer than 200 000. The Yanomami and the Kayapo are examples of people living in the Amazon rainforest. The Yanomami have only had outside contact for the last 60 years. Both groups have had ingenious ways to farm without the rainforest without damaging the Rainforest. The picture on the left shows some communities in the Amazon Rainforest.

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The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (Portuguese: Carnaval) is a festival held before every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.

The typical parade is filled with revelers, floats, and adornments from numerous samba schools which are located in Rio (more than 200 approximately, divided into 5 leagues/ divisions). A is composed of a collaboration of local neighbours that want to attend carnival together, with some kind of regional, geographical common background.

The annual spectacle pits the city's 12 best samba schools against one another in ornate that include over 2,500 participants each and cost more than $3 million to produce. The efforts are judged in 10 categories, with a winner announced later in the week, laying claim to nothing more than a year's worth of bragging rights.

According to some, the carnival was originally a Greek spring festival in honor of the god of wine, Dionysus. The Romans adopted the same tradition with a feast in honor of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, and Saturnalia. On this day master and slaves exchanged clothes amidst a day full of drunken revelry. The Roman Catholic Church later modified the feast of Saturnalia into a festival preceding the beginning of Lent. However, what evolved is a mass celebration of indulgences in music, dance, food, and drink, something which the Church did not have in mind.

Carnival festivities in Brazil date back to 1723 with the Portuguese immigrants from the islands of Açores, Madeira and Cabo Verde introducing the Entrudo. People went out onto the streets soaking each other with buckets of water and threw mud and food, which often ended up in street brawls and riots. The concepts kept changing throughout the 1800s with more organized parades like the grandes sociedades or great societies where the Emperor joined in the celebrations with a group of aristocrats that paraded in masks with luxurious costumes and music. During the 1840s, masquerade carnival balls set to polkas and waltzes became popular. A decade later, street parades with horse drawn floats and military bands were the center of focus of the carnival. Towards the end of the century, the carnival became a working class festivity where people wore costumes and joined the parade accompanied by musicians playing string instruments and flutes. Carnival was also used during the years of military censorship to express political dissatisfaction. The Samba Schools would use irony and sarcasm to express their displeasure with the government and the people’s desire for freedom.

The 2017 Rio Carnival festival is set to take place February 24-27, 2017. With all the excitement surrounding Rio, the during Rio Carnival 2017 will play host the biggest party on the planet!

Registered Charity no. 295198 Brazil’s famous women

Dilma Vana Rousseff is a Brazilian economist and politician who became the first woman president of Brazil in 2011. She became active in politics at the age of 16 when she took to the streets in protest as part of the organized resistance against military dictatorship, getting affiliated to many leftist and Marxist urban guerrilla groups. She was eventually captured, jailed and tortured, and after her release she began her life afresh with a new stand. She played an important role in the founding of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT) in Rio Grande de do Sul. She also served as the Secretary of Energy, Mines, and Communication, and subsequently as the Minister of Mines and Energy.

Carmen Miranda, aka the “Brazilian Bombshell”, was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, actress and film star who truly epitomised Latin culture. She was raised in Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, where she began absorbing the language and aesthetics of the different cultures. After picking up various expressions from her favorite bands, she went on to create a character that has gone down in history. She is considered the precursor of the Tropicalismo movement in Brazil, and is noted for the signature fruit hat she wore in a number of her films.

Marta Vieira da , grew up in the poorest parts in Brazil, where she would play football with boys on the beach. As an unprivileged child, she had to resort to making a football out of plastic bags tied together, though this clearly worked in her favour as nowadays she is considered the best female football player in the world. Her phenomenal technique, speed and goal scoring abilities caused Marta to be labelled ‘the female equivalent of Pele’, and she is often compared to other distinguished men in the game.

Gisele Bündchen: Legendary supermodel Gisele has featured in numerous high-profile campaigns, which have made her the highest-earning model on the planet. She signed a record-breaking 25 million dollar contract with Victoria’s Secret and is currently the face of H&M, Chanel and David Yurman. Aside from modelling, Gisele has demonstrated her acting skills in the films Taxi and The Devil Wears Prada, and has partnerships with a lingerie line, multiple accessory collections and Ipanema flip-flops.

Dirce Navarro de Camargo: Brazil’s richest woman. On the subject of flip flops, the owner of Brazil’s most famous brand, Havaianas, was also the country’s richest woman and world’s oldest billionaire. Dirce Navarro De Camargo passed away in April of last year at the age of one hundred.

Tarsila do Amaral was considered to be one of the leading Latin American artists, described as "the Brazilian painter who best achieved Brazilian aspirations for nationalistic expression in a modern style”. She was a member of the "Grupo dos Cinco" (Group of Five), which was a group of five Brazilian artists who are considered the biggest influence in the modern art movement in Brazil. Tarsila was also instrumental in the formation of the ‘Antropofagia’ movement.

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BRAZILIAN FOOD and DRINK

Feijoada - Brazil’s most famous dish. Essentially a stew of beans with beef and pork, which can also contain sausage, pigs' ears and tail, white rice, chopped kale and orange slices. Its name derives from the Portuguese word feijão, meaning ‘beans’. It is usually prepared with black beans, although white, pinto and red are also acceptable, which are combined with pork or beef in a thick clay pot. Vegetables such as okra, pumpkin and even banana are added, along with a blend of spices and chilies. The result is a thick, glutinous and hearty stew bursting with flavour, which is eaten all year round in Brazil.

Churrasco - While most South Americans would agree that Argentinians are the masters of the barbecue, Brazil’s natural culinary flair has made their steakhouses almost as legendary. The simple grills of these establishments owe their origins to the fireside roasts of Brazilian gauchos in the 18th century, and their simple, unpretentious style has arisen from those cowboy traditions. Churrasco encompasses all types of skewered meat and the best barbecue restaurants in Brazil will typically offer guests their choice of prime cuts to skewer and then grill to perfection.

Acarajé - A potent combination of peeled black eyed peas and shrimp, which is rolled into a ball and deep fried, acarajé is an example of the African influence in . The dish is mainly found in the Bahia region and is often served as street food in the markets of Salvador. It is also a fixture of the religious tradition of Candomblé, an Afro-Brazilian offshoot of Catholicism. Varieties of the dish can also be found in Nigeria, Togo, Ghana and Benin and it is thought the dish was brought over to Brazil by slaves from the African coast. That this simple street food bears such a rich cultural, social and religious history is evidence of the amalgamation of cultures which is so typical of Brazil.

Moqueca - is perhaps Brazil’s signature seafood dish, and is the counterpart to the more meaty feijoada. It is also an Afro-Brazilian inspired dish, which brings flavors and techniques from the West African region and combines them with typically South American culinary styles. It usually combines grouper, snapper, mahi mahi, salmon, or monkfish with various vegetables and spices including limes, cilantro, paprika, palm oil and milk, and lets them stew for up to an hour.

Sweets and Desserts Brazilians have a sweet tooth and candy can be found with every meal. Brazilian desserts use a lot of nuts, milk derivatives and also local fruits like açaí, cupuaçu, mango, papaya, cashew, guava, orange, passion fruit and pineapple. Here are a few of them:

Registered Charity no. 295198 Açaí na tigela This is a thick cream from the açaí fruit. It can also be blended with strawberries or bananas and topped with granola, condensed milk or even powder milk.

Brigadeiro The most typical sweet from Brazil. It looks like a chocolate truffle and has a caramel texture. It is a thick mix of condensed milk, butter and cocoa powder mixed together over a low heat. Once cooled, it is rolled into small balls and covered with chocolate sprinkles.

Beijinho Similar to the brigadeiro, these sweets are made of condensed milk mixed with butter and coconut, it is then rolled into little balls and finally covered with grated coconut.

Bolo de rolo This is a thin sponge cake rolled in to a log with a filling of guava, marmalade or doce de leite.

Canjica Also called Mugunzá in the North of Brazil, this dish is a made with whole white maize kernels (canjica) and cooked with milk, sugar and cinnamon until tender. In the North of Brazil it is made with .

Cocada Made with eggs and shredded coconut, cocadas come in a variety of textures and colors but the traditional variation is a hard, sweet, golden brown candy. They are oven baked but served at room temperature to provide a chewy and soft texture. They are often garnished with almonds.

Creme de Papaya This dessert is papaya fruit blended with vanilla ice-cream and can also be topped off with blackcurrant Cremè Cassis.

Romeu & Julieta Just as with Shakespeare's characters names, Romeo and Juliet, it is one of the simplest duos: Goiabada and cheese. The most commonly used cheese for this recipe is white cheese, but it can be made with other kinds like catupiry and requeijão that are softer and creamier. One layer of guava goes with one layer of cheese always in proportion.

Manjar A white coconut pudding topped with caramel and dried plums.

Maria-mole This dessert literally means "soft Mary". It is similar to marshmallow but even softer. Maria-mole is made of egg whites, sugar, gelatin and coconut.

Paçoca A typical dessert commonly made during Festa Junina, it is made out of ground peanuts, cassava flour, sugar and salt. It is like a powder and can often turn into a mess. But it is still one of the most beloved sweets in Brazil.

Pamonha This is a corn and milk paste wrapped in a corn husk and boiled. In some areas of Brazil you can find it prepared with coconut milk. It is similar to humitas from Chile.

Registered Charity no. 295198 Quindim Made chiefly from sugar, egg yolks and ground coconut, it is a custard that can be presented as an upturned cup with the glistening surface and intensely yellow color or in a large donut mould that is called "quindão" and served in slices.

Torta Holandesa Translated as a Dutch pie, it was actually created in the state of São Paulo after the good times a cook called Sílvia Leite, had in Europe. The pie consists of layer of wafers, covered with a cold white cream and topped with dark chocolate ganache.

Mousse de Maracujá This mousse made from passion fruit is one of the simplest desserts because it has only 3 ingredients and no baking is necessary. Basically all you need to do is blend passion fruit juice, condensed milk and heavy cream and let it cool in the fridge for a few hours.

Pudim de leite condensado The most typical pudim is made of condensed milk, milk and eggs.

Brazilian drinks

Good Cachaça Brazil’s national liquor is Cachaça, a distilled drink made from sugarcane, with a high alcohol content. Cachaça is also known as Pinga, and it can be served with squeezed lime and honey.

Caipirinha and its variations The original version is made of Cachaça, sugar, lime and ice, all mixed up in a glass. There are however several other flavours, where different fruits substitute the lime: red berries, passion fruit, cashew, tangerine, and lychee are just some of them. Caipirinhas can also be made with different alcoholic beverages. The Sakerinha substitutes the Cachaça for Sake, a japanese fermented drink made from rice. This results in a smoother drink. There is also a version made from vodka, named Caipiroska or Caipivodka, depending on the region where it is ordered.

Cajuína The Cajuína is a non-alcoholic drink made from the cashew. It was invented in the northeastern state of Piauí, where the fruit is abundant. The cashew juice is filtered, sterilized and clarified. This refreshing beverage is usually served cold.

Guaraná Guaraná is the name of a fruit found in the Amazon, but nowadays it is also a synonym for soft drinks made of it, including the pink coloured Guaraná Jesus. This fruit is high in energy and can also be used for the making of fresh juices.

Açaí Juice The sweet thick purple juice made from the Açaí berry is a great energy provider but is very high in calories. The Açaí berry can also be found in a thicker form, similar to a paste that is commonly mixed with other fruit like bananas and strawberries.

Xiboquinha This drink is not so easy to find, but it is an interesting mixture associated to a typical Brazilian dance: forró. Xiboquinha is made of Cachaça, clove, cinnamon, lime, ginger and herbs. There is also a bottled version of this drink, which is not so good.

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Football in Brazil (left) Night view of Maracanã Stadium, June 2013. First played: 1894 Registered players: 2.1 million Clubs: 29,208 Biggest audience record in a single match: 199,854 (Brazil 1-2 Uruguay at Maracanã Stadium in 1950 FIFA World Cup) It’s fair to say that when Charles Miller introduced football to Sao Paulo Athletic Club in 1892 he would have had no idea just how much the sport would become an intrinsic part of everyday life. There are very few places where football is so passionately supported than Brazil. It is said that when Brazil lost to Uruguay in the final of the 1950 World Cup the entire nation mourned. The heartbreak was so much that a name was created for the disaster (the “Maracanazo”) in much the same way as an earthquake or hurricane might be titled.

The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament five times, the most of any team, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favorites to win the trophy every time the competition is scheduled. After Brazil won its 3rd World Cup in 1970, they were awarded the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently. But 365 days before World Cup 2014 began, Brazil's rank dropped to 22nd, an all-time-low position. Their players have won the Ballon D’Or six times in the past 15 years and the World Player of the Year eight times in its 19 years of existence. That’s more than any other country.

Pelé, arguably the greatest footballer ever, led Brazil to three of those championships and is the top scorer of all time in the sport. They can boast to having produced some of the greatest ever players, including Socrates, Carlos Alberto, , , , Jairzinha, Romario, Rivelino, Zito, Ronaldo, Tostao, , Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Kaká in the men's game, and Marta in the women's game. In the current Brazilian team are some of the finest players in the world including , Lúcio, Alexandre Pato, Júlio Cesar, Maicon and Luis Fabiano.

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