1 Ride an Amazon River Steamer

2 Swim Bonito’s Natural Aquarium
The countryside around Campo Grande is the kind of prosperous, slightly dull agricultural landscape that puts one in mind of Kansas. But just 150 miles to the south near the town of Bonito is a place that more properly belongs in Oz. Water from the Formosa, Securi, and Bama Bonita rivers filters and trickles through a region of calcium-laden bedrock to emerge in pools and natural springs of stunning clarity. Normally, pools of such crystalline clarity offer little in the way of aquatic life, but for reasons unknown, Bonito’s pools teem with fish.
The largest of the pools—the Aquario Natural—abounds in dourado, piripitanga, corimba, and hundreds of other colorful tropical fish. Visitors don mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit (yes, the water’s chilly, but it’s that very chill that also keeps out the piranhas) and swim in what is justly called the Natural Aquarium. Equally clear and colorful is a drift along the nearby Rio Sucuri (reached by a one-hour hike) where it’s hard to decide whether to look down through the blue-green waters or up at the lush pink and purple stands of orchids lining the riverbank.

3 Bike Chapada Diamantina
In the hinterland of Salvador, just outside of the town of Lengois, lies the Chapada Diamantina. Valleys of lush green dotted with bright tropical flowers surround a mountain range of twisted red rock formations reminiscent of the American Southwest. Prowling this lush little wilderness are capybaras, jaguars (to eat the capybaras), and flocks of gorgeous multicolored birds.
Named by the miners who once came in search of diamonds, the Chapada Diamantina is now sought out by adventure travelers who come to hike the trails, explore the caverns, and swim in the mountain-fed waterfalls. Backpackers here often eschew a tent, since campsites are mostly located conveniently next to a comfy grotto. For those in the mood for some two-wheeled exploration, there’s an excellent 47-mile track that starts in Lengois, leads down along the edge of the wetlands in the Vale do Capco, then switchbacks up to the highest point in the Chapada, the 4,000-foot Morro Volta da Serra, before gliding back down into the town of Andarai.

4 Hike Northern Brazilian Dunes
If paradise consists of crystal-clear freshwater lagoons lined by palm trees and surrounded by towering dunes of the whitest sand imaginable, then Eden is actually in the north of Brazil, in the Parque Nacional dos Lençois Maranheses. This 600,000-acre preserve is one of the world’s truly unique ecosystems. Located on the coast, Lençois is a desert of massive sand dunes (most more than 100 feet high) that is blessed from December through July with abundant rainfall. The rains trickle into the troughs between dunes, creating spectacular lagoons of blue and green, which then fill up with fish and turtles and flocks of migratory waterfowl. Come summer, the rains cease, the lagoons shrink, and the sand dunes begin to shift, often by as much as 75 feet a year.
Tourism to the park is in its infancy; if you get there, you’re likely on your own. Within the park there are no facilities, but entry is absolutely free, and there are no rules about where thou shalt or shalt not put thy tent.

5 Go Caving in a National Park
Located in the far northeast corner of the Brazilian state of Goias, Terra Ronca boasts over 200 caverns—some tens of miles deep—many of which remain unexplored. The largest formations attract spelunkers, adventure travelers, and, once a year, the religious. Every August 6th, residents of the area celebrate the Festa do Bom Jesus da Lapa. Women dressed all in white form a procession to a large underground lake, into which they toss offerings of flowers and votive candles.
Perhaps the best-explored cavern is the Gruta Terra Ronca, which extends for over three miles underground. Exploring the length of the cave is possible, though you have to work for your fun; close to the entrance of the cavern is an underground river with a considerable current. The rewards on the far side include numerous galleries holding magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, as well some delicate and beautiful calcium flowers. In one gallery, about two-thirds of the way along, there’s an opening in the ceiling that allows enough sunlight to filter in for a few small palms to grow.

6 Raft the Jalapao
Travel northwards from Brasilia through the dry-as-dust scrubland and eventually—long after the asphalt has given way to gravel and the potholes have swallowed two of the three spare tires from your 4×4—you’ll see the Jalapco highlands rising the up like a mirage. Isolated in the eastern regions of the sparsely populated state of Tocantins, this extensive plateau gives rise to no less than five rivers, all of them pristine enough to drink from.
The main river, the Rio Novo, is best explored by raft. (Bring your own or book with an outfitter in the gateway town of Ponte Alta do Tocantins.) Expeditions begin on the placid waters below the Ponte do Rio Novo. Drifting quietly past the caimans through a gallery of overhanging trees, you’ll see wolves and deer coming down to drink, monkeys crashing through the canopy, and macaws and toucans cawing noisily at the disturbance. Near the edge of the plateau the river picks up speed, churning and surging through numerous rapids, pausing once in a while for a lazy flat section before once again cascading downwards. Four days later you wind up at the Cachoeira da Velha, a beautiful horseshoe-shaped waterfall that looks like a scale model of Niagara, except that at the bottom of it, you can swim.

7 Rappel Waterfall-Filled Caverns
Brazil lacks much in the way of mountains, and because it’s so hard to head up, Brazilians go down, rappelling down canyons either next to or completely immersed in cascading waterfalls. Called canyoning, this is one of the hottest new sports in a country newly obsessed with the outdoors. One of the spots locals favor is the Parque Nacional Chapada dos Veadeiros, located in the northern highlands of the state of Goias. Source of both the Tocantins and Parana rivers, Chapada dos Veadeiros is known for its pristine water courses and its waterfalls. Also present are armadillos, giant anteaters, and wolves.
But the chief attractions for rapellers are the waterfalls. Located in the eastern part of the park, the Cachoeira da Agua Fria is particularly popular. From the top, the views are stunning in all directions. Set your anchors, toss over the rope, and go for it. As you glide, jerk, or slowly creep your way down, you’ll have only the rush of water and the sparkle of countless quartz crystals for company.

8 Scuba Dive in Ubatuba
Although snobby residents of Rio will sneer at beaches in the state of Sao Paulo, the area around Ubatuba is a scuba diver’s dream come true. (It’s also not bad for tree and beach lovers; 70 percent of the area is protected Atlantic rainforest, while the jagged coastline means the many small, sandy, difficult-to-get-to beaches remain blissfully free of people.) Diving takes place around the many small islands that dot the coast, with each island offering its own particular attraction. Ilha das Couves is known for its coral, and for the dolphins that often keep you company near the surface. Ilha de Palmas and the surrounding waters hold hundreds of intriguing rock formations, many containing sizeable caverns—the place for cave divers to practice their esoteric and dangerous craft.
And for those who missed out on their tacky tourist fix, at Ilha Anchieta there’s an underwater statue of Jacques Cousteau, sunk in 1997 in memory of the French researcher and filmmaker.

9 Multi-Sport on the Ilha Bela
Located on the rich green coast north of Sao Paolo, the steep-sided island of Ilha Bela had its closest brush with civilization in the 19th century, when coffee barons chopped plantations out of the island’s western slopes and made tracks through the forest. When coffee crashed, the island was largely abandoned, its cover of Atlantic rainforest intact save for a network of rough mountain trails, with a near-limitless number of almost inaccessible beaches on its outer Atlantic shore.
Just recently, one local operator has come up with a way to harness Ilha Bela’s unique attributes. Take the Ilha Bela adventure and you’ll travel by 4×4 to a 3,600-foot-high ridge and ride mountain bikes on a descent past waterfalls and through rainforest to a far-off beach on the Atlantic shore. And that’s just day one. On day two it’s into kayaks for a paddle from lonely beach to completely isolated beach. On day three the journey continues, with stops here and there for hikes up to an occasional lonely waterfall. After three or four days, the expedition arrives back at a beach close to town.

10 Hike Itaimbezinho Canyon
The biggest canyon in Brazil lurks near the border of the southern states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, inside the Parque Nacional dos Aparados da Serra. Nearly six miles long and a mile deep, the Itaimbezinho can be either spectacularly beautiful or treacherously deadly. Or both.
Most days, you walk along the lush banks of the Rio do Boi, marvelling at the countless waterfalls that plunge down from on high. Occasionally, however, an unexpected rain turns the gurgling Rio do Boi into a snarling torrent that chews its way through the canyon bottom, spitting out the corpse of anyone unlucky enough to have been caught in the chasm. Avoiding these days is a matter of timing. Hiking in the dry season (July-October) is generally safe, though it’s wise to keep an ear to the latest forecast. Even during the wet season the trip’s still possible, though the prudent may want to stick to the Cotovelo Trail, which follows along the canyon’s edge. It, too, is beautiful and spectacular, with the only real danger being a trip too close to the edge.

Source: gorp.com

1 Hike Rio’s Hunchback

2 Bike Iguazu Falls
Anyone who’s seen The Mission will instantly recognize the falls of Iguazu. The Iguazu River—which here forms the border between Brazil and Argentina—roars over a sheer precipice three miles wide and 270 feet high, vaporizing enough of the river to create a thick warm mist and permanently glowing rainbow.
It’s the mists that create the great hidden secret of the Iguazu area—mostly missed by tourists eager to click the perfect shot and move on—a pocket microclimate of near-rainforest lushness. Mountain bikes are the best way to explore this tiny Eden, particularly on the Argentinean side where there are numerous trails leading from small riverside swimming pools all the way back up to the top of the gorge. The forest is home to monkeys and peccaries and tapirs and over 400 species of tropical birds. Many of these creatures can be hard to spot, of course, but the same can’t be said of the abundant population of glorious tropical butterflies. Count yourself unlucky if—at some point during the day—you don’t find yourself pedaling through a colorful cloud of insects, many of them shaded iridescent blue.

3 Explore the Amazon
The last great wilderness on earth, and larger than all of Western Europe combined, the Amazon is truly a place of marvels: more biodiversity and more free-flowing freshwater than anywhere else on earth. And on what a scale: The river itself stretches for 4,000 miles from Brazil far into Peru, and the Amazon Basin covers 2.3 million square miles.
Visitors to the Amazon rainforest can expect to see trees in a mind-numbing variety of shapes, sizes, colors and configurations, vines weaving themselves amongst the trees, creepers hanging from the vines, and orchids and bromeliads by the bushel basket. For wildlife, there are monkeys crashing over the treetops, snakes and tortoise on the forest floor, and sloths, toucans, and bright red macaws in amongst the tree trunks.
You’ll find all these things and more, but given the Amazon’s vastness, it can take a little time. Jungle lodges—not far from Manaus—are one option. Excursions take you bird watching, piranha fishing, caiman spotting, or to an Amazonian village. Another option: Live aboard a boat. Some cruise lines, like Royal Olympic, make an excursion into the basin. Other companies, like Abercrombie & Kent, can take you on a first-class, multi-day trip from Manaus to Iquitos, Peru, with excursions on tiny Zodiacs. For the truly adventurous, a number of Manaus operators offer two-week (or longer) expeditions, first by plane and speedboat up the narrowing Rio Negro, then by kayak or canoe through far-off tributaries north to the peaks of Pico de Neblina, or south to the villages and territory of seldom-met tribes of the Yanomani Indians.
Go in the dry season, when you’ll be able to walk around, or the wet, when the forest floods and lifts boaters some 20 feet closer to the canopy.

4 Hike the Royal Road
It’s one of the last stands of Atlantic rainforest—a nature reserve boasting jaguars, wolves, and stunning coastal views. And this 25-mile trek through the Parque Nacional Serra dos Orgaos, which usually takes three days to complete, is also a way to take in the royal cities of Petropolis and Teresopolis (which once served the Emperor Pedro and Empress Teresa as summer capitals).
Starting from the park headquarters just outside of Teresopolis, the trail winds through the Mata Atlantica, giving you a glimpse of what the hills and the coast looked like before the axe-wielding Portuguese arrived. As the trail rises, the forest gradually makes way for alpine meadows, which continue until you reach the Pedra do Sino (7,419 feet). From its peak, you can see all the way to the coast and Rio de Janeiro. The trail then continues along the ridgeline, past sheer dropoffs, to a high point at the Pedra do Agu (7,331 feet) before winding back down into Petropolis.

5 Ride a Rio Airwave
If ever a place was made for hang gliding, it is surely Rio. The weather’s warm year-round, the sun and ocean make for constant rising thermals, and thanks to the extreme geography, there are launch sites throughout the city. Solo flying’s fine, if you’ve brought your kite; if not, there are tandem flights for hire. Perhaps the most scenic flight is the one that starts from the peak of the Pedra Bonita in Gavea. Launching from a site 1,705 feet above sea level, you soar above Rio’s Floresta da Tijuca—the largest urban forest in the world—observing for as long as wind and loft allow. When the time finally comes to set down, head for the beach at Sco Conrado (two beaches east of Ipanema). After touchdown, mosey up to a beachside bar—likely full of other fliers—sit back with a cold Brazilian beer, and boast about your accomplishments.

6 Scuba Dive a Brazilian Island
It’s isolation, of course, that makes an island special, and Fernando de Noronha has solitude in spades. To reach this 21-island archipelago, you travel to the far northern city of Recife, then turn right and fly for an hour and a half straight out into the Atlantic. Adding to the solitude are the strict rules imposed by the Brazilian environment ministry: 70 percent of the archipelago is national park, and the number of visitors may never exceed 420 at any given time. Most times, the island’s full; around Christmas and New Year’s, would-be islanders have been known to wait for days for a spot to open up.
So what’s luring people out there to all that splendid isolation? A fully intact ecosystem in all its tropical glory. Verdant green mountainsides roll down to sheer rocky cliffs which fall onto wide sandy beaches that have known neither condo nor cabana. And beneath the waves floats a paradise of coral, fish, manta rays, and lemon sharks. Each new dive site offers new possibilities. Laje dos dois Irmcos is known for its coral. Ilha do Frade is the place to see rock formations and manta rays. Early in the morning, if you’re looking for something scenic above the surface, wander over to the Baia dos Golfinhos just after dawn to watch 2,000 spinner dolphins gather in pods to feed and frolic in the morning sunsine.

7 Boogie the Rio Grande Beaches
Make sure your sun hat has a string: The Brazilian dune buggy makes for a ferociously fast and furious ride. Motorsports are an obsession here, and in the far northern state of Rio Grande do Norte, this love of things with four wheels and an engine has been melded with the Nordeste love of the beach. The result: the boogie, as it’s called in Portuguese. The best beaches for boogieing, located just to the north of the city of Natal, boast monstrous dunes of shifting sands, some of them hundreds of feet high.
Though it is occasionally possible to do it yourself, it’s more exciting to hire a driver. Among the stunts the drivers will treat you to are the Wall of Death, the Roller Coaster, and the Vertical Descent. True, none of this is exactly ecologically correct (though there is an informal arrangement whereby bugeiros use only the beaches closest to Natal; farther north the coast remains dune-bug free). On the other hand, it is outrageously fun.

8 See Wildlife in the Pantanal
It’s a secret that until very recently was known only to film crews: the best place in South America to see wildlife is not the Amazon but the Pantanal. Now the word’s out, and this France-sized wetland on the far western edge of Brazil is fast becoming a must-see. And with good reason: The Pantanal is bursting with animals—capybaras, caimans, jaguars, anacondas, giant otters, scarlet macaws, and flocks of storks and herons. Unlike in the Amazon, where the dense green foliage makes the creatures harder to see, the Pantanal is tailor-made for eco-touring. In the wet season, the Pantanal becomes one vast lake, so most mammals congregate on the few remaining dry bits. In the dry season, everything draws in to the few remaining waterholes. The only problem is getting around.
Few roads exist in the Pantanal; the best way to explore the area is make like the locals and head out on horseback. Brazilian cattle ranchers have grazed their livestock here for decades. Nowadays, many of these fazendas offer places to sleep and horses to rent: Tag along after the ranch hands on their daily rides to pick up cattle, or set out on your own to explore.

9 Bask on Brigitte Bardot’s Beaches
Want a little beach? Located on the Atlantic Coast north of Rio, the little town of Buzios was “discovered” by Brigite Bardot and—despite the influx of Brazilian beautiful people—has managed in the years since to retain the laid-back atmosphere of its fishing-village past. A good deal of its charm is due to the sheer beauty of the surroundings: The town sits on the tip of a long peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic. Just offshore there are many tiny islands, the perfect place to sail for one day or several, diving and snorkelling along the way. In the countryside nearby, waterfalls spill down forested hillsides in warm freshwater cascades.
Closer to town, experience all the wonderful combinations and permutations of Brazilian beach culture. Geriba Beach is the place for surfing. Quiet and calm and very deep, Ferruda Beach is perfect for a lazy afternoon snorkel. Far from town are more isolated spots to steal a quiet moment with a special beach friend, while right in town on Ossos beach you can sip a caipirinha at a beachside cafe and pretend for a moment you’re young and rich and beautiful. Everyone else is.

10 Hike 18th Century Cities
It’s an outdoor walk through some of Brazil’s most brilliant past: The inland state of Minas Gerais struck it rich on gold just about the time the Baroque was reaching its elaborate architectural heights. The newly wealthy citizens needed something to blow their money on, and having exhausted the joys of women and booze, they turned to architecture. The result is six small cities that rival St. Petersburg or Prague, boasting cobblestone streets, soaring palaces, and elaborate churches.
Largest of the six is the hilltop town of Ouro Preto; its cobblestone streets wander up and down hills crowned with more than a dozen ornately carved and elaborately decorated Baroque churches. Each corner turns on new surprises: mansions, fountains, ruins, beautiful terraced gardens, and towers glowing with colored tiles. Close by, the smaller cities of Mariana and Congonhas and Sabara offer similar delights though on a smaller scale, exquisite desserts to Ouro Preto’s rich architectural feast. All four cities lie within a 12-mile radius, but it’s still best to use transit to move between cities and save your shoe leather for in town.

Source: gorp.com

With its origins in the Andes, tobacco followed the migrations of the Indians throughout Central America, until it arrived in Brazil.

The first tobacco fields were farmed by colonists for their own consumption. Soon, however, many people appeared who were willing to buy the excess until finally, in Europe, demand grew and many businesspeople started to visualize the tremendous possibilities for profit that would come from the creation of a regular tobacco supply chain.

Initially, the production of tobacco in Brazil occupied small, concentrated areas between Salvador and Recife in the Recôncavo Baiano, an exceptionally fertile area along the coast of the state of Bahia. In the first half of the 17th century, during the Dutch occupation of Pernambuco, the tobacco produced in that area had an important role among the products offered by the West Indies Company. With the expulsion of the Dutch, the first regulatory legislation of tobacco production began to appear. In 1674, the colony’s monopoly was guaranteed through creation of the Tobacco Administration Board, the decisions of which established the rules regarding tobacco for all Portuguese colonies.

By the end of the 17th century, one piece of legislation attempted to regulate tobacco commerce based on controlling transported cargoes due to the vast size and diversity of the growing areas, creating special regulations and agencies such as the Tobacco Inspection Board. From this date on, legislation was finally stabilized and remained in force until after Brazilian independence. The end of the supervised freedom that Portugal imposed on Brazil during the colonial period gave significant impetus to tobacco farmers. It became possible to grow any species, anywhere. Further, the possibility of direct commerce with foreign countries was a great incentive. At that time, effectively beginning in 1850, the provinces that stood out in tobacco production were Minas Gerais, Bahia and, due to German immigration, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.

In 1917 the Brazilian Tobacco Corporation was set up in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS). The company was established by the British company, British American Tobacco, and was the first step in the transformation of the city into a national centre for the tobacco industry. In 1920 the company changed its name to “Companhia Brasileira de Fumo em Folha” (Brazilian Tobacco Leaf Company) and in 1955 it was acquired by Souza Cruz.

Some towns stand out in the production of “puros” Bahia. Alagoinhas is the headquarters of Chaba; in Cachoeira are the plants of Paraguaçu and Talvis/Leite e Alves, in Cruz das Almas are Angelina, Damatta, Julien Bahia, Josefina, LeCigar, Sandes, San Salvador, Puros do Brazil, Tabacos Mata Fina, Tobajara, San Francisco; in San Felix you find Dannemann and in São Gonçalo dos Campos is Menendez & Amerino.

Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil in 1500. The country has been producing dark tobacco since its early days of colonization. Tobacco was growing naturally in this area, the natives used it and the Portuguese and Dutch realized the possibility of great profit in this beautiful, dark and flavorful tobacco. Brazil quickly became a leading exporter of dark tobacco and holds the number one position to this day. Brazil is one of the only countries where you can actually roll a puro. From that small region you have quality tobacco to use as filler, binder and wrapper. And once rolled, it will be a great cigar full of flavor, of a good strength and with great evolution.

It was not until the late 18th century when the production of cigars grew to considerable numbers. The bellies of the caravelas that were previously filled with tobacco now also carried handrolled cigars. Soon the European markets were flooded with Brazilian dark tobacco. By 1900, Brazil was producing 120 million cigars every Stalk cut Mata Fina drying in a barn year. The production of cigars fell drastically all the way through the 20th century while the production of dark tobacco continued to grow. The days of the great cigar rolling factories, like Suerdick, are gone and Cruz das Almas is blessed with small factories that did not cave into mass production. There are about eight factories in the region producing quality cigars and consuming about 2% of the dark tobacco grown there. But wait, where is the remainder 98% of this rich and tasty tobacco destined? Apparently, the Brazilians are the only ones that did not realize that the tobacco grown in the Mata Fina is gold. The exported tobacco has two destinations. Some of this tobacco is used by cigar makers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in long filler cigars. The majority of the exported Brazilian dark tobacco is used up by European companies that produce machine-made short filler cigars.

All of the dark tobacco planted in Bahia is of the Mata Fina kind. Even though we are talking about the same plant, the microclimates, treatment of the plant and harvesting techniques makes tobacco grown on the sides of the same road taste completely different. Each different tobacco used in a Brazilian cigar gets its name from its location rather than from the kind of plant.

The regions and the tobacco

Mata Fina
Mata Fina is the main region producing tobacco today. Its sandy and grainy soil gets an average of 120cm of rain a year. All of the Mata Fina grown in this region is sun grown. Wrappers are hand cut one-by-one and barn dried. The filler and binder leaves are harvested by stalk cutting (cutting the whole plant and hanging it to dry without removing the leaves form the stalk). While wrappers are grown by the big monopolies, binder and filler leaves are predominantly grown by small producers that harvest by stalk cutting, often drying the tobacco in improvised barns and even on their own porches. The tobacco from this area is of the finest quality allowing for a very smooth, sweet and aromatic, mediumbodied smoke.

Mata Norte
The rain is not so abundant in this region north of Cruz das Almas. The soil varies from sandy to clay-like. In this region, the tobacco is planted later than in other regions. All of the tobacco in this region is sun grown and stalk harvested. What makes it different from Mata Fina is that the leaves are left to dry in open air. The tobacco is exposed to sun, wind and rain. The leaves, being exposed to weather, are not suitable for wrappers. This drying method allows the Mata Norte to yield a very full-bodied smoke. It would be impossible to enjoy a cigar made with 100% Mata Norte. This tobacco is used to compose the cigar blend by lending its strength and all of its rich, nutty, roasted and bitter coffee notes.

Mata São Gonçalo
Around the small village of São Gonçalo, the tobacco planters are more careful when harvesting and this region is famous for its wrappers. The best wrappers come from this town located in the Mata Fina region. The farmers use cocoa mush as fertilizer and this gives the wrappers from this region a beautiful sheen. In general, this area and Mata Fina have very similar soil and tobacco flavor characteristics.

Mata Sul – Even though this region is blessed with good rain and very rich soil, most of the land in this southern part of the Mata Fina is sloped, making it hard to harvest. The tobacco planters must double their care when planting and harvesting tobacco in this area and this yields tobacco of good quality and of good, mild-bodied flavor. The tobacco production is this region has been drastically falling while workers make more money planting cocoa.

Caatinga
The Caatinga is very dry and the soil is very sandy. The farmers in this region have few natural or economic production resources. The tobacco in this region offers very little in taste and strength making it barely commercial. The production of tobacco in this area depends on landlords providing a piece of land and manure for farmers to produce. In return, the landlords get a share of the tobacco, which is of very poor quality and is difficult to sell. This is what cheap cigars are made of.

Other Regions
Sumatra is also grown in the Mata Fina region. Despite not being a native Brazilian tobacco, it yields a tasteless but very silky wrapper. All of the Sumatra is shade grown. In Sergipe, a state neighboring Bahia, Mata Fina is also grown in the Arapiraca region. The Arapiraca is of poor quality and taste offering a very metallic smoke that makes your nose itch. It is a very acidic tobacco widely used by cigar makers in the Caribbean and Central America to boost the strength of a particular cigar; but what it actually does, most often, is completely ruin the flavors of the other tobaccos in the blend.

But why is all this flavorful tobacco being exported? Well, since the colonial days, all of the dark tobacco plantations rest in the hands of European companies.

Tobacco is a commodity and sold quoted in US dollars. A kilo of Mata Fina wrapper can be as expensive as US$120, the most expensive tobacco in the world. Local cigar makers do not have the financial capacity to invest in this pricy tobacco and have to limit their production.

On the other hand, the Brazilian market is flooded with Cuban cigars. While Cuban cigars are exempt from import duties, Brazilian-made cigars pay about 95% tax! On the shelves of your average Brazilian retailer, you will notice that the price tag on a Brazilian and a Cuban cigar of the same size is very similar. Culturally, your average uneducated smoker will prefer an imported Cuban cigar to a Brazilian smoke. Whether the Cuban is short filler or counterfeit, it does not make much of a difference, this smoker enjoys smoking the label.

Still, Mata Fina is one of the finest tobaccos for cigars. There are many smokers around the world that enjoy the fine taste of Mata Fina. If you have never tried any Mata Fina, next time you visit your tobacconist make sure you ask for a fine Brazilian smoke.

In the world of cigars, Brazil is mostly known for its dark tobacco, called Mata Fina tobacco. Mata Fina is a sun-grown tobacco which is typically made into wrappers and used for premium, long filler cigars by many cigar producers in the Caribbean and Central America.
This Brazilian wrapper is dark brown to black in color after fermentation, with a mild to medium strength, rich flavor, is very aromatic, and has a natural sweetness that yields excellent Oscuro and Maduro wrappers.
Like its name, Mata Fina tobacco is grown in a region also called Mata Fina. The Mata Fina Region is located in the Reconcavo Basin in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The region gets its name from the native thin vegetation that grows there (mata means “vegetation,” and fina, “thin”).

In this region tobacco was found naturally growing along with the thin vegetation that covers the land, which led to the name for Brazil’s dark tobacco, Mata Fina tobacco. Just about all of the dark tobacco planted in the Reconcavo Basin of Bahia is of the Mata Fina variety.

There are also other Mata Fina varieties that are grown in different regions of Bahia and because of the different microclimates, treatment of the plant, and harvesting techniques gives the tobacco a different taste.
For example, in addition to the Mata Fina region, other regions in the state of Bahia include: Mata Norte, Mata São Gonçalo, and Mata Sul, all of which grow a different variety of Mata Fina tobacco that produce different characteristics of tobacco because of the differerent microclimates and different growing techniques used in those regions.

Besides the native Mata Fina tobacco, the Reconcavo Basin of Bahia also grows other varieties of tobacco such as the Brazilian-Sumatra, which is a Sumatra tobacco seed originating from Indonesia and has thrived in Brazil.

Mata Fina tobacco is also also grown in the state of Sergipe, a state neighboring Bahia. In Sergipe, it is grown in the Arapiraca region of the state and the Mata Fina tobacco grown here again comes in different varieties.

As stated above, Brazil has become a major supplier of tobacco for cigar makers in other countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Particularly, its unique dark wrapper leaf that many cigar brands from other countries use on their cigars.

In addition to it’s dark wrapper leaf that it exports, Brazil produces many premium cigars with 100% Brazilian grown tobacoo (puros) in its cigar, that are great tasting and have gone unnoticed in many markets around the world.

Locations (from north to south)

Maracajaú Maracajaú is located about 50km from Natal, and it takes one hour to go there. This region is considered to be the best area for snorkeling and diving, near Natal. There is a big area of reefs named Parrachos de Maracajaú (7km from the coast), an area of 13km2, with a deep varying between 1,8m and 3,2m, during low tide. The water temperature is in average 26°C, and the development of corals contribute to a rich marine fauna and flora, turning the region to an enormous, natural aquarium. This scenery is idealistic of practicing Snorkeling and also Scuba Diving for beginners. Also more experienced scuba divers can enjoy the region’s very pleasant diving, with reference to the rich marine life, and the waters temperature and visibility.

Fernando de Noronha 200 miles off the northeastern coast lies a mountainous archipelago made up of 21 islands which are sparsely populated and still the much the way it was when the Portuguese settled here in the 1500s. This National Marine Sanctuary is a heavenly retreat for divers and snorkelers. Due to its open ocean location, it provides pelagic fish and ocean mammals a wonderful refuge. The dive sites include shipwrecks, canyons, amazing volcanic rock and coral formations, a permanent wild dolphin colony, reef sharks, turtles, schooling barracudas and all kinds of rays and colorful fish. Cavort with 600 dolphins, the largest and oldest residential school of spinner dolphins in the world. Dive with juvenile sharks at Lage Dois Irmaos, a breeding and nursery area for fourteen species of reef sharks. The sharks come into this protected area to have their young and the newborn stay to play with divers until they are big enough to venture into the open ocean. You may also witness turtles being released into the wild. Explore the Ipiranga, a Brazilian Navy Corvete, a sunken Portuguese frigate and much, much more. The rock formations are brilliantly colored with encrusting sponges and provide a beautiful backdrop for each of your dives.

Recife-Olinda The Recife-Olinda region offers excellent all year round sites for scuba diving and snorkelling. Marine life is very abundant in this region, but sharks are common and the sea is often rough (there are many ancient shipwrecks, waiting for divers to explore them…) If you aren’t an experienced diver, you may prefer other alternatives, some of which not far from Recife, as Porto Galinhas. Porto Galinhas Porto de Galinhas is a very friendly diving site, excellent both for scuba beginners and advanced divers. Here, in Porto Galinhas, you will find diving courses and all year round conditions for diving.

Maragogi Maragogi Beaches have calm waters, without strong waves, with coral reefs and fine sands. During low tide, sand banks emerge forming natural pools, known as Croas (5 km away from the coast) and Galés (6 km away). “Jangadas” (sailing boats typical of Northern Brazil) and boats can take tourists to these pools. On the beach’s southern tip, between Vila de Japaratinga and Pontal, visitors find the less urbanized beaches with 20-m high sea cliffs. Visitors can also go on a boat ride to coral reefs 6 km away from the coast. Maragogi beach is near Maragogi River, with calm waves, fine and flat sands and coral reefs.

Salvador http://www.pousadavillaverde.com/scubadiving.htm

Ilha de Boipeba Although only the Rio do Inferno (River of Hell) separates Ilha de Boipeba from the Ilha do Tinharé, where Morro de São Paulo is located, Boipeba is Morro de São Paulo as it was 20 years ago before an influx of tourism blew everything out of proportion. Its beautiful unspoiled beaches are framed by lush jungle and crisscrossed by warm rivers that are ideal for bathing. Although Boipeba is becoming a hip beach resort for those in the know, it has managed to retain a bucolic tranquility along with some 20 kilometers (12 miles) of stunning white-sand beaches protected by coral reefs. The most “developed”—which, thankfully, isn’t saying much—is Boca da Barra. Here you’ll find lots of barracas where you can dig into fresh fish and seafood. A half-hour walk brings you to the dazzling white sands of Tassimirim, followed by the blissfully deserted Praia de Cueira—both of which are ideal for snorkeling.

Abrolhos Ideal for diving, the Archipelago of Abrolhos, a collection of volcanic islands and coral reefs located 45 miles off the southern coast of the state of Bahia, is the largest and most biologically diverse reef system in the South Atlantic. Diving at the Abrolhos Bank is characterized by large, mushroom-shaped coral formations called chapeirões (big hats) found nowhere else in the world. The structures start in about 100 feet of water and reach almost to the surface, and nearly 50 percent of these corals are endemic. Divers can visit the park and its surrounding reefs via the town of Caravelas–about 575 miles from Rio de Janeiro–on day or overnight trips. Along with endemic marine life and unique coral structures, three popular wrecks–the Rosalinda, Santa Catharina and Guadiana–attract divers here, and from July to December, humpback whales from the Antarctic gather at the bank to mate and nurse their young.

Buzios Buzios, a luxury beach resort destination just two hours drive north Rio de Janeiro, offers excellent places for diving. But the true regional pearl for diving in this region is Arraial do Cabo, less than 90 miles south of Rio de Janeiro. Arraial do Cabo is in fact the best place for diving in Brazil’s south. With turquoise waters, teeming with marine life (turtles, moray eels, queen angelfish, sea horses…) and some dozens of lakes and old ship-wrecks, Arraial do Cabo is a truly world-class place for scuba diving. Arraial do Cabo is an all year round. Many hotels in Rio de Janeiro and Buzios can arrange transportation and tours to Arraial do Cabo.

Ilha Grande Near Sao Paulo you may enjoy some of the best scuba diving sites in Brazil, namely in Ilha Grande (Angra dos Reis region). Angra dos Reis – a luxury travel destinations – is a delightful destination with amazing forests, waterfalls, lakes, small fishing villages, secret coves, small beaches… and exceptional conditions for diving, namely in Ilha Grande, one of the many local small islands. Here, in Ilha Grande, you may explore its local rich marine life, and also dozens of old ship-wrecks (european galleons sunken some hundred years ago as a result of battles involving pirates and colonial forces). Ilha Grande is an all year round place for diving.

Bonito Despite lying in the very heartland of Brazil, many miles from the coast, Mato Grosso do Sul is one of the country`s best diving destinations. The towns of Bonito and Jardim boast the clearest waters in all of Brazil, with an enormous range of aquatic life and geographical features to atracct divers, from absolute beginners to the techinical level. Cave diving experts have nothing to complain about either: Bonito and Jardim`s underwater caves are unique and unforgettable among the finest in the world. Snorkeling is one of Bonito and Jardim`s major attractions. The best thing is to go with the flow along the riverbeds, observing the underwater fauna and flora, pretending to be a part of this fabulous ecosystem.

Bóia cross
On a buoy in the shape of a tire, the Bóia cross is one of the funniest and most exciting activities that can be done on the Brazilian rivers. Places like Bonito, with its crystalline water, has perfect water flowing for this kind of activity.
The Bóia cross is usually done on rivers full of fish. The forest that surrounds this water flowing is another attraction: there are not only many species of plants, but also many birds and animals that go there to drink water.

Canyoning
The activity consists in rappelling down a waterfall. You can practice canyoying in almost all the regions of Brazil and especially in the area of the Chapadas. The paradisiacal Chapada Diamantina and Veadeiros are one of the most beautiful places where you can practice this kind of activity.

Canoeing
Canoeing and kayaking are practiced along the coast and on many rivers, and it shows the peculiar and the unmistakable natural attractions of the country. On the coast of the state of Paraná, for example, it’s possible to row next to dolphins while you see the preserved forest in each curve and islands.
In Brazil it’s possible to choose between the peaceful bays along the coast as well as awesome downhill on the voluminous rivers of the whole country.

Caving
With an ancient geologic formation – some regions are almost 600 million years old – Brazil is just like a dream for the ones who like to go caving. There are caves all around the country and they can be visited in Bonito, Chapada Diamantina and many other destinations.
You can also go rappelling and scuba diving in crystalline lagoons inside the caves. The beauty of the stalagmites and stalactites is unique.

Climbing
If you like climbing, Brazil is the right destination for you to have this kind of adventure. With many places around the whole territory, the activity always comes with astonishing landscapes.
The rocks, like the ones on the region of Cerrado, for example, are perfect for a complete integration between man and nature.

Kite surfing
Idealized on the 80s, Brazil is perfect for practicing kitesurfing. Along the whole Brazilian coast the wind is always favorable for the ones who love practicing it. With a board fixed to your feet and the kite arc-shaped, it’s possible to make the most extreme maneuvers.
From Jericoacoara – one of the best places for this activity in the country – as well as the other beaches of the northeast region – to the south of the country, like the Conceição Lake, in the city of Florianópolis, it’s easy to have fun on lakes and waves of the country.

Mountainbike
You will find tracks with the most beautiful sceneries which extend for kilometers and in all states of Brazil. Largely practiced in the country, mountain biking is the perfect combination if you like adventure and astonishing landscapes.
With perfect tracks for the beginners and even for the advanced ones, the mountain biking can be done on short tracks as well as long distances through places almost never explored.

Off road
Travelling on a four-wheel vehicle to visit the beauties of Brazil is one of the most pleasurable activities. Going along inhospitable places and visiting small communities and the exuberating nature, the off-road is for the ones who like adventure.
Dry places like the Brazilian northeast and also destination like Jalapão, Itacaré and the Estrada Real provide adventure for the ones who want to travel around the most extraordinary landscapes of the country.

Rafting
Rafting in Brazil is simply amazing. You can practice rafting over the huge Cataratas do Iguaçu, a place considered one of the most beautiful places of the world.
In Jalapão, that mixes red dunes and an untouched landscape, there are rafting expeditions that take you to completely wild places. The activity can also be done in beautiful coastal regions, like Itacaré, and in many other destinations of the country.

Rapel
Going down big rock walls surrounded by native forest and other amazing landscapes is one of the most practiced activities throughout the country. It’s possible to go rappelling in hallucinating sceneries like Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Veadeiros and Chapada dos Guimarães.

Boat trips
Travelling by boat   in a typical embarkation is one of the most interesting ways of getting in contact with the local culture and the natural beauties of different regions.
Pantanal, with its wetlands, and Amazon, a paradise of rivers and forests, are some of the destinations where this kind of activity is practiced. Coastal regions, such as Paraty, Ilha Grande, Ilhabela or the paradisiacal Fernando de Noronha, also have boat trips.

Sandboarding
The amazing sandbording is one of the most popular activities of the northeast region and also in many other parts of the country. On a board similar to the snowboard, the activity consists of going down along dunes, which mixes a bit of surfing and skating.
In many places the attraction has one more thing: huge mountains of sand that goes along refreshing lakes of clean water.

Scuba diving
In Brazil there are many destinations for scuba diving both in salt and fresh water. The most famous for salt water diving are the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha and the beaches of Recife.
In the southeast region you will find incredible destinations for this activity such as Ubatuba, Ilhabela, Angra dos Reis, Paraty and Rio de Janeiro.  A unique destination for flotation (snorkeling) in fresh water is Bonito. You can also scuba dive in crystalline rivers and lagoons in Chapada Diamantina.

Surfing
Headquarters of many international competitions of surf, Brazil has perfect beaches from North to South. You can find good waves in different regions: Ubatuba, on the coast of São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha in Pernanbuco and Itacaré in Bahia. In Brazil you will have the chance to surf on beaches completely paradisiacal and some of them were never touched by man.

Tree climbing
The tree climbing, also called in Brazil arvorismo, is a recent activity, but it’s becoming more popular each day. The activity, which was created by the researchers that needed to move from tree to tree, consists of walking through huge and green trees, maintaining in equilibrium on suspense tracks and also bridges.
The mixture of concentration and contact with nature is one of the most interesting things of this activity that provides you with a unique view of the forest. Today the tree climbing can be done in lots of places, like Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina, and in Bonito, in Mato Grosso do Sul.

Trekking
Any destination in Brazil is perfect for trekking. With hallucinating landscapes (always different from each other), the country is becoming one of the best places in the world for practicing this kind of activity.
In Brazil, the choice is yours: you can go trekking on one of the most beautiful beaches in Fernando de Noronha, in trails surrounded by huge mountains with the shape of a table in Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Veadieros or Chapada dos Guimarães, through the rich diversity of Atlantic Rainforest or along the 850 km of the historical Estrada Real.
The options are so many that it becomes impossible to describe. Consult our operators for more information about all the tour options.

Safari
With beautiful landscapes and a rich fauna and flora, the Brazilian safaris show you a unique diversity only seen here. With trips that take only a few days and some other that are longer, this activity is practiced on inhospitable regions like Jalapão, which astonishes the visitors with its huge red dunes and transparent rivers.

Wildlife
With a diversity that astonishes even the most experienced adventurer, Brazil is the ideal place for the ones who want to visit different places and also see the exotic species of animals.
The interesting thing is that you can always combine the animal watching with other activities, such as trekking and canoying. You can always see big animals – such as Capivaras, jaguars, alligators – in Amazônia, in the Chapadas, in the beautiful coast or in the only desert of the country.

Source: abeta

First of all, Salvador Da Bahia is dedicated to this sport. By dedicated we mean that they have actually created a Department of Golf within its tourism department. One of the most important golf courses in all Brazil is Costa do Sauipe Golf Links which is in Sao Joao. It was designed by Brian Costello and takes advantage of its gorgeous location overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Another interesting option is Costa do Sauipe which is the championship course which hosted the Brazilian Open back in 2005. The course is known for being kept in a perfect condition and it has a golden reputation across the country. It features all the needed, like carts, driving range as well as a clubhouse with all of the amenities needed for the golf players. An avid golfer by the name of Alexandre Rui Chammas, a resident of Sao Paolo, stated that this golf course is in fact one of the best courses in all Brazil.

An alternative would be Comandatuba which is a privately owned course belonging to Transamerica Hotel that in fact dominates the entire island. The course itself is not only a golf experience per say but also an ecological excursion because by going here you will notice a wide variety of birds, anteaters, foxes and even monkeys. The golf course was designed by the famous American golf course designer Dan Blankenship. Although the setting is quite exotic, the golf conditions are just perfect. An 18-hole championship course that plays at nearly 7,000 yards from the tips, Comandatuba will challenge you with a respectable 72.9 rating.

In the Rio de Janeiro region, there are a couple of golf courses in Buzios, and in the opposite direction – in Angora dos Reis, where there is a luxury resort that has a great field and it is connected to the local hotel. To the south, there are the Florianopolis greens. The location is known for being a great place for sea sports like swimming, surfing and diving, but of course, it has some great golf courses.

Yet another important travel attraction in the country where there is a golf course is Iguassu, located in the mid south, near the frontier with Argentina and Paraguay. Iguassu boasts the world’s biggest waterfalls, a natural phenomenon far beyond Niagara Falls. The local Bourbon Iguassu Golf Resort hotel has excellent greens.

There is a recent development in golf courses in Bahia, a situation which will most likely be found in other locations across the country thanks to the media which encourages people of all ages to start enjoying this hobby which in the past was only for the upper class.

More information
Although golf in Brazil is becoming more popular, it has not yet gained the popularity it has in Europe or the US. There are around 100 clubs registered with the Brazilian Golf Federation, and 40 of them are located in the country’s wealthiest state, São Paulo. Another 10 of the clubs are registered with the Rio de Janeiro Federation. The Brazilian Golf Federation (Confederação Brasileira de Golfe – CBG) website has information on golf clubs and driving ranges throughout the country.

* Brazilian Golf Federationa (Confederação Brasileira de Golfe)
At: Rua Paes de Araújo 29, conj. 42, 04531-090 São Paulo
Tel: (11) 3168 4366
* São Paulo Golf Federation (Federação Paulista de Golfe)
At: Rua Antonio Gebara 177, Jardim Ceci, Planalto Paulista, 04071-020 São Paulo
Tel: (11) 5594 3839
* Rio de Janeiro Golf Federation (Federação de Golfe do Estado do Rio de Janeiro)
At: Rua Olegário Maciel 451, Co. 308, Barra da Tijuca, 22621-200 Rio de Janeiro
Tel: (21) 2495 4915 / 2495 5003

Playing Golf in Brazil
Golf rules in Brazil are the standard R&A rules although each club may have local rules depending on the course conditions.
Brazil follows the handicap system established by the United States Golf Association (USGA)  but clubs do not require a player have a handicap in order to play. Note that not all clubs have a course rating yet.
For foreigners in São Paulo wishing to transfer their European or USGA handicap, it is recommended to contact the São Paulo Golf Federation for information.

When to Play
In Brazil, golf is a year-round sport. Although there is an official season which generally runs from February or March (depending upon Carnival) until November, this may vary from club to club. In São Paulo, the rainy season is December and January, with downpours almost every day in late afternoon or early evening.

Getting into a Golf Club
All clubs in Brazil are open to visitors although at many clubs it may be necessary to be signed in by a member. Inquire when booking.
There are no membership fees to be paid for a one-off round of golf, just a course fee. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and the club itself and its facilities. This fee usually provides full access to the club’s facilities which always includes a changing room (often with a sauna), a restaurant and bar, and may include a swimming pool and gym.
Although insurance and a a medical certificate are not required to play, a medical certificate may be required to use the swimming pool. Depending upon the time of the day and day of the week, this may be arranged with the club doctor during the visit.
Most golf clubs prohibit shorts or jeans.

Golf Club Services
All clubs will be able to suggest qualified instructors who can provide golf lessons. All clubs have both caddies and golf carts available for hire, and these can be arranged either upon arrival or in advance.
For those who do not have their own set of clubs, most clubs can rent them to visitors and the driving ranges all have equipment for hire. There are a growing number of golf equipment stores in Brazil’s major cities, though most clubs have pro shops on their grounds selling a range of golfing equipment and accessories.

Restaurants rating system in Brazil
“Incredibly enough, it’s hard to find reliable restaurant recommendations for Salvador on the web. There are listings galore, but… who to trust?” says Alexandra of braziltraveltips.blogspot.com.
Many countries have national organizations that rate restaurants and some even organize national gastronomic events. The largest culinary festival in Brazil is Brasil Sabor, a joint project by Abrasel (the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants), the Ministry of Tourism and SEBRAE (Brazilian Service of Support for Micro and Small Businesses). The participating restaurants offer a special dish which represents the local cuisine to promote the diversity of regional culinary traditions. But Abrasel does not give ratings. For as far as we know the only rating system available is done by the Quatro Rodas Guide.
So, we have followed some recommendations of this made-in-Brazil guide, and ironically ended up in places with food being prepared so badly we never imagined possible in Brazil. Goodbye to our conviction that Brazil restaurants always serve good food. This restaurant guide is not reliable, to say the least.
In the US and most European countries you find websites like Tripadvisor, and some combine it with jury ratings. This will be adopted in Brazil soon. For now, our favorite guides are Frommers and Fodor.

São Paulo
Although neither Rio nor São Paulo has a distinctive cuisine of its own, like all cosmopolitan metropolises they have various dining scenes. If you’ve got cash to splash, put on your nicest evening dress and try the often recommended restaurants DOM and Rubaiyat.
Some often recommended restaurants in Sao Paulo: Mani;  Antiquarius;  DOM;  Fasano

Rio de Janeiro
Rio has many charming restaurants. We recommend you to read: Ipanema.com.
Some often recommended restaurants in Rio de Janeiro: Olympe;  Sudbrack; Le Pré Catalan Mok Sakebar

Bahia
Travelling along the Bahia coast you will notice that most menus are tourist menus and start with the popular Moqueca dish and offer few interesting alternatives. For more varied plates you will be served well in Salvador. Some of the most often recommended restaurants in Salvador: Jardim das Delícias; Lafayette; Marc le Dantec; Yemanja; Dona Chika Ka; Pereira; Lambreta Grill; Casa de Gamboa; Sorriso da Dada; Maria Mata Mouro; Trapiche Adelaide; Galpão; Paraiso Tropical; Uauá.
Read more about Bahia food: passportmagazine.com
Some often recommended restaurants in Arraial d’ajuda: Morocha, Don Fabrizio
Some often recommended restaurants in Trancoso: Cacao, Capim Santo.
Read more about restaurants in Trancoso: braziltraveltips.blogspot.com

Amazonas
Amazonian cuisine is strongly influenced by the region’s native Tupi, people, who live largely on manioc, freshwater fish, yams and beans, and exotic fruit. Caldeirada is a popular fish stew not unlike bouillabaisse, and pato no tucupi is a regional favorite made with duck, garlic, jambu herb and the juice of both lemons and manioc roots.
Some of the most often recommended restaurants in Belem and Manáus:
Belém: La Madre; Lá em Casa; Beto Grill; Manjar das Garças; Remanso do peixe; Pomme D’Or; Dom Giuseppe.
Manáus: Moronguetá; Banzeiro; El Toro Loco; Village; Bernardino.

Typical Amazonian cuisine
Manioc is also a major component of Amazonian cuisine, besides the Amazon fish. Many dishes include the manioc, as it is the case of pato no tucupi (duck in tucupi), a typical Amazon dish, certainly the most famous, based on the exotic sauce of tucupi. It’s also the case of tacacá, a shrimp soup, available everywhere, including street corners and docks. Or maniçoba, a dish including pieces of meat, sausage and chicory leaves (besides the manioc).
Also common in the Amazonian food is an adapted version of vatapá, a bahian seafood dish.

Tucupi
A traditional Brazilian sauce, tucupi is made from juice extracted from the manioc root. Yellow in color, the sauce is served over duck and fish, and it is used as a base for soups. The sauce is considered a basic element of Paras cuisine. The recipes for it have been developed and used over many generations, and still remain popular and sought out by both locals and tourists.
Making the sauce is a rather involved process. Without putting the juice through the proper cooking process, the juice is poisonous. What makes the uncooked juice inedible is the presence of cyanide. After it is put through a rigorous and lengthy boiling process, the poisons will no longer be present. What is left is then used to create the popular sauce.

Pato no tucupi,
Said to be the dish of northern Brazil, pato no tucupi, or duck in tucupi sauce, is a popular holiday favorite, although it is also served in some places year round. The duck was the first domesticated animal used by the natives as a source of meat, and so the dish has long been a local favorite. The duck is first boiled or roasted and is then shredded. Before adding the duck, garlic, chicory, and basil are added and cooked into the sauce, creating a deep savory flavor. The thin pieces are added to the sauce and then boiled before the dish is ready to serve.
Pato no tucupi is served over fluffy white rice. It is also served with a starchy flour called farinha d’agua, which is made from manioc that has been allowed to ferment. Commonly, hot pepper is added as seasoning. The dish is served piping hot and is recognized for its distinctive flavor.

Tacaca
Tacaca is a common food sold by street vendors and local restaurateurs and is another dish made with tucupi. It is a popular favorite in the state of Para, which includes the cities of Belem and Santarem. Made from a base of tucupi paste, it is a thick soup. Most often shrimp and jambu are added to the soup. Jambu is a native tree fruit that is sharp tasting. The combination of the sauce and the jambu causes a tingling and a numbness in the the mouth. This effect is caused by the highly acidic nature of tucupi and the jambu when combined. Tucupi is a popular addition to this regional food, and many people seek it out not only for its numbing effect but also for its distinctive taste.