What comes to mind when you think of Brazil? For many, it’s the lively beats of samba, the energy of a football match, or the dazzling spectacle of the Rio Carnival. Brazil is often seen as a vibrant, sports-crazy nation, bursting with life and culture. The country is the largest in South America and is renowned for its beautiful beaches, pulsating nightlife, and diversity, making it truly unique. Yet, beyond the music, the football, and the festivities, there’s another aspect of Brazil that is equally rich and deserving of attention: its cuisine.
Brazilian cuisine is a celebration of the country’s diverse cultural influences, blending indigenous, African, Asian and Portuguese culinary traditions into a symphony of flavours. It’s a cuisine known for its bold and vibrant tastes, with prominent use of ingredients like rice, beans, meat, and tropical fruits.
One of the cornerstones of Brazilian cuisine is its use of beans and pulses. In fact, Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers of these staples, and they form the foundation of many traditional dishes.
But Brazilian cuisine is much more than just beans and rice. The country has vast arable land, a diverse climate, and advanced agricultural practices. This immense agricultural potential positions Brazil as a crucial player in the global food industry, with significant opportunities for collaboration with other nations, particularly India.
In an exclusive conversation with Diplomatist Magazine, Mr. Angelo de Queiroz Mauricio, Agricultural Attaché at the Embassy of Brazil in India, shed light on the evolving relationship between Brazil and India, emphasising the untapped potential in agricultural and food cooperation.
A New Dimension in Brazil-India Relations
“In the last six months alone, we have welcomed 31 high-level delegations from Brazil to India, including governors and ministers,” Mr. Mauricio highlighted, underscoring the growing interest and engagement between the two countries. “This influx of visits highlights the growing relationship between our two nations. Trade, while certainly the most visible aspect of this relationship, is just one facet of a much broader and deeper connection.”
Mr. Mauricio explained that this surge in diplomatic activities signifies a shift in the bilateral relationship, marking a new dimension and a higher level of engagement. “What we are witnessing is a shift in our bilateral relationship—it’s reaching a new dimension, a higher level of engagement. This heightened interest is driven by a mutual recognition that Brazil and India can truly collaborate in meaningful ways. We don’t just share complementary interests; we have complementary strengths that we can leverage for mutual benefit.”
Beyond Stereotypes: Expanding the Narrative
Despite the growing interest, Mr. Mauricio noted that the level of mutual awareness between Brazil and India remains limited, often confined to cultural stereotypes. “However, despite this increasing interest, the level of mutual awareness between our two countries remains limited. Our perceptions of each other are often reduced to stereotypes—football, carnival, yoga, meditation. These are important cultural elements, but they represent just a fraction of who we are.”
He emphasised the need to expand the narrative beyond these stereotypes and explore new dimensions of the bilateral relationship, particularly in agriculture, food, and tourism. “We want to explore new dimensions of our relationship, such as the gastronomic ties we can develop. There’s so much more to discuss beyond the traditional topics, like tourism and the many opportunities it presents, not just in agriculture but across various sectors.”
Agriculture: The Heart of Brazil-India Cooperation
As the Agricultural Attaché, Mr. Mauricio’s primary focus is on agriculture, particularly the area of food. He spoke passionately about the power of food to bring people together and create connections between nations. “As the Agricultural Attaché, it’s my duty to focus on agriculture, particularly in the area of food. Food has a unique power to bring people together—it’s at the heart of so many joyful moments.”
He also mentioned the arrival of new products, such as plant-based options and Brazilian rajma, which hold great promise for further deepening the agricultural ties between Brazil and India. “New products are arriving, such as the plant-based options you see here today, and there’s growing interest in others, like Brazilian rajma.”
Rajma, a staple in both Brazilian and Indian diets, serves as a perfect example of the complementary aspects of the two cultures. “Rajma is a perfect example of the complementary aspects of our cultures. In both Brazil and India, beans are a staple, a daily part of our diets. This shared culinary tradition is just one of many areas where our two nations can connect on a deeper level,” Mr. Mauricio remarked.
Looking Ahead: A Promising Future
As Brazil and India continue to deepen their ties, the agricultural and food sectors are poised to play a pivotal role in this evolving relationship. With the mutual recognition of complementary strengths and the potential for collaboration, the future of Brazil-India relations looks promising.
“We have the opportunity to collaborate in meaningful ways, leveraging our strengths for mutual benefit,” Mr. Mauricio concluded, expressing optimism about the future of Brazil-India relations.
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