Bahia

Região Nordeste: Bahia

by Jessica A.

Bahia é o quarto estado brasileiro mais populoso.

 Bahia is situated on the coast, with the turquoise Atlantic Ocean lapping at its shores. This state is in the northeast of Brazil, South America. Its capital city is São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, commonly shortened to Salvador.

It is bordered by Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Piauí, Goiás, Tocantins, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. The name, Bahia, means “bay” and refers to the sight of the bay that the first European explorers stumbled across in 1501.

Once found, Bahia was claimed by the Portuguese. Under their rule, the city of Salvador was established, and thereafter became the administrative and religious epicenter of all of the Portuguese-owned areas in the Americas. Between the 1500’s and 1700’s, Bahia was a prime area for its sugar plantations and industry, translating to an enormous influx of people, including African slaves.

Even after the rest of Brazil had gained independence from Portuguese rule, Bahia remained loyal to the Europeans. It was only much later (in 1823) that this area became independent.

The Atlantic Forest makes up the vast majority of Bahia’s natural landscape. There is a chain of mountains, called Chapada Diamantina, which winds its way through the state. This range divides the state into an east section and a west section. The east is rich and fertile with regular rain, while the west is less developed and harsher in terms of its natural vegetation. The west is arid, but enjoys the supply of water that it receives from the São Francisco River. The coastline is the longest in Brazil, measuring over 1 100 kilometers, or 685 miles. In general, the climate in Bahia is Tropical.

Economy:

Imports consist chiefly of manufactured goods, while exports include tobacco, sugar, sisal, hides, castor beans, aluminum, iron ore, and petroleum from the nearby Candeias oil field. Food and tobacco processing, textile, ceramics, and automobile manufacturing, chemical production, metallurgy, woodworking and leatherworking, and shipbuilding and repair are Salvador’s main industries. The port of Salvador is one of the finest in Brazil and includes a yacht harbor.

Chapada Diamantina, National Park

Tourism is based on the city’s historic sites and the fine beaches that ring it on three sides; tourism has become a significant component of the economy.

The main regions of Bahia comprise:

• The Coconut Coast – named as such for its extensive coconut groves, this area is on the coast and also boasts glorious rivers and impressive sand dunes.

• All Saints Bay – this is the largest bay on the coast of the country and is home to 56 islands. It is popular for its water sports and tropical beaches

• Dendê Coast – this area has an array of different floral species. It provides the ideal escape for tourists wanting to relax on deserted beaches or walk through dense rain forests.

• Cacao Coast – pristine beaches are lined with coconut groves in this ecological wonderland. Wetland forests and cacao groves combine with reefs, rivers and islands for gorgeous vistas.

• The Discovery Coast – excursions along the cliffs, beaches and river beds are a must in this part of Bahia. 

• The Whale Coast – as its name implies, this area is ideal for whale watching between July and November, attracting visitors from all over the world during this peak season.

• The Diamantina Tableland Region – This particularly mountainous area is traversed by thousands of kilometers of fresh water rivers.

Typical food of Salvador de Bahia: five dishes that you have to taste

1. Acarajé

The “Acarajé” is one of the specialties of Salvador which you can not miss on your visit to the city!

This Afro-Brazilian food is related to the cult of Candomblé, where this food is part of the religious rituals. The term “acarajé” comes from the African Word “akara”, which means ball of fire and makes reference to the way of preparation. It is made with beans or wild pea that is left to soak to soften and then make a pure with onion, salt, pepper and shrimp. These ingredients together form a dough that is fried in abundant oil which gets its characteristic flavor. It is served with pepper sauce and is usually accompanied by the traditional Vatapá, a stew of breadcrumbs soaked in coconut milk with ginger, pepper, peanuts, palm oil and onion. It has also “desfumados” (dried and smoked) prawns to give the typical Bahian flavor. These are eaten with husk. They are commonly served by women wearing typical Bahian clothes, with large clay pots and fryers.

2. Moqueca Bahiana

The “Moqueca Baiana” is like a stew prepared slowly in an earthenware dish. It is prepared with fish, peppers of various colors, tomato, coriander, pepper, palm oil and coconut milk. This dish starts with the smell of the milk of coconut combined with seafood and spices. The result is a unique culinary delight that exists only in Salvador de Bahia.

3. Vatapá

The “Vatapá” is the typical dish of the Bahian cuisine. It is made with bread crumbs or flour, ginger, pimenta malagueta, peanut butter (peanut), palma (azeite-de-dendê) coconut milk, oil and onion. The most common is to try it with the acarajé. But we will find different versions to experience its particular flavor. It is a very economical and yielding dish.

It can be served with fresh shrimp, fish, bacalhau or with veal meat, always served with rice. This dish is also very famous in Pará. But suffers a few variations: instead of peanut it has banana.

4. Cocadas

Conceived as one of the most typical sweet or traditional dessert, cocada, tends to be the livelihood of many people who sell on the beaches or in the streets. Its mystery is a mixture of coconut grated with milk, cinnamon, vanilla and condensed milk. This recipe in addition to being very delicious is very easy. The typical cocadas are the white coconut and condensed milk, the browns who have cooked coconut before, and there are some with dulce de leche.

5. Creppe de Tapioca

This typical food is not exclusively of Salvador but you can find it in all the Brazilian Northeast, but this was born in the State of Bahia

The word tapioca is used to refer to various products of cassava (also known as manioc) plant. It is similar to a thin pancake, which is known in Portuguese as tapioca crepe. It can be stuffed cheese, or some fruit and bathed in sweetened condensed milk or coconut milk. It can be enjoyed sweet or salty, in both options it has a delicious taste and really gives pleasure to enjoy it in the morning as breakfast, afternoon snack, or at night to accompany dinner.

This type of tortilla or panqueca is produced from starch from cassava powder known as “polvilho doce”, or rubber-tapioca, which is extracted from the fleshy roots of the cassava plant.

Music of Brazil

The music of Brazil encompasses various regional musical styles influenced by African, European and Amerindian forms. Brazilian music developed some unique and original styles such as forró, repente, coco de roda, axé, sertanejo, samba, bossa nova, MPB, música nativista, pagode, tropicália, choro, maracatu, embolada (coco de repente), funk carioca, frevo, brega, modinha and Brazilian versions of foreign musical styles, such as rock, soul, hip-hop, disco music, country, etc…

Samba has become the best-known form of Brazilian music worldwide, especially because of the country's carnival.

https://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/brazil/articles/best-of-brazils-bahia

http://blog.chelagarto.com/en/gastronomia-bahiana-cinco-platos-que-debes-probar/

https://www.britannica.com/place/Salvador-Brazil

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Brazil

Question:

         What similarities do you find between the food of Bahia and the food of your country?