BRAZIL: Mosaic of colours and flavours

With 26 states, the largest country in South America hosts an effervescent culture and an outstanding natural heritage. At the heart of the Amazon rainforest, agriculture is the engine of traditional economy, which grants Brazil the raw coffee production leadership and its rank among the first fifth cocoa producers. Besides, the coveted Amazonian Foresteros cocoa pods are chocolate makers' favourite around the world.

Brazil titillates the senses. First, sight with breath taking places such as Iguaçu falls in the State of Paraná or Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Taste and smell with fragrant dishes between Farofa with Belem pepper or meat Empadao. Then touch with the feeling of sand slipping through the fingers on the beach of Lopes Mendes – Rio de Janeiro – and Praia do Espelho in Bahia. Finally, hearing is being tickled by local notes. Across cities, villages, favelas, well-off neighbourhoods, Latin tones get mixed up between Bossa Nova and Samba. Lively and sensual music goes blithely from Axé in Salvador to Forrò, northeast.

Dance and music are prominently featured in Brazilian culture, without actually neglecting sport. Football has won the hearts of Brazilians, who enjoy Beach volley, Capoeira and Formula 1 races. From Ronaldinho to Rubens Barichello including Sergio Mendes, Brazilians became famous in their respective specialisms: Futebol, F1 and Music.

Although the population is gathered on shores, Nature takes its realm back once in Amazonia. Varied landscapes provide shelter for fauna and flora, thousand and thousand of species. Jaguars, cougars, sloths, capybaras, monkeys, parrots, toucans, snakes, alligators, piranhas, dolphins and so many others. Between the Serra do Mar moutains and the Fernando de Noronha islands, the atol das Rocas, the pampa of Rio Grande do Sul, the wilderness is opening up. Brazil is certainly a land of contrasts, and has to be discovered from every angle.

Translated by S. Muller - Meretdemeures.com.