Brazilian Brands: Goiabinha & Biscoito da Vaquinha
Working from home poses multiple dangers. I mentioned my struggles with procrastination in my last post – today I have to tell you about ‘The Kitchen Problem’. Throughout my working day, I am never more than 6 or 7 paces from the kitchen and all the good things that live there. When temptation is so close, the urge to wander in and make a snack presents itself approximately every 45 minutes.
I have developed a coping strategy: tea. I’m now getting through around 8 or 9 cups of tea per day (feels great to live up to my national stereotype). However, the kitchen and my own appetite have developed a counter strategy: biscuits. I expect this arms race of desire and denial will continue, but in the meantime let me tell you about my current biscuits of choice (yes, 2 of them).
Goiabinha
Official Name: Roladinho Goiabinha (sounds like ‘holla-JEEN-yo goya-BEEN-ya’)
Popular Name: Goiabinha
Product: Biscuit / cookie
Description: Very similar to the Fig Roll (a biscuit popular in the UK), the Roladinho Goiabinha is a simple biscuit shell with a sweet guava jam filling.
The manufacturer, Piraquê, was created in 1950 in Rio’s Zona Norte neighbourhood of Madureira. But it wasn’t until 1966 when Piraquê hit the big time with this guava filled ‘roll’. Since then this biscuit has been a favourite for generations of Brazilians (especially cariocas). Today Piraquê employs 4,500 workers, has a presence in 10 countries and has an annual turnover of R$550 million – all thanks to this chunky little biscuit (they also sell other biscuits and also pasta, but this guava roll started it all).
Verdict: Despite the fact that I find it almost impossible to remember the full name of this biscuit (I keep saying Goiabinho Roladinha), I’m a big fan. As a biscuit, it does what you want – satisfies a craving for food without filling you up too much.
Also, it’s a great dunker. Extra nod of respect to Piraquê for using an honest illustration on the packaging – no Photoshop air-brusing à la Mc Donald’s here. With its stubby shape and dull brown filling you could hardly describe it as an elegant biscuit, but it’s been keeping Brazilians happy for almost 50 years.
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Biscoito da Vaquinha
Official Name: Biscoito Leite Maltado
Popular Name: Biscoito da Vaquinha
Product: Biscuit / cookie
Description: A circular biscuit with a wavy design. Principal ingredients are wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil that has been ‘interesterified’ [I dread to think], powdered milk and malt.
This is a simple biscuit, but it inspires serious levels of devotion. Here’s how one blogger describes it: “The biscoito de Vaquinha is a celebration of flavour for any human being who has ever had – or still has – a childhood” – high praise indeed!
Its official (and rather dull) name is purely descriptive – Malted Milk – but the use of little cows on the packaging gave rise to its popular name, which roughly translates as ‘little cow biscuits’.
Verdict: Another classic from Piraquê, these must be one of the most popular biscuits sold in Brazil. Part of me wonders whether they’d be so popular if they didn’t have those little cows on the packaging, but sure, they’re pretty tasty.
One drawback with their slim design is that they are useless for dunking – however, it makes them perfect for making homemade alfajores – sandwich some doce de leite between two vaquinhas, then cover with chocolate – bingo!
One special tip (or alert): don’t let you be mislead by other “Goiabinhas” such as Bauduco’s one, offered by Gol in their domestic flights. It sucks. Actually, don’t take anything served by Gol in their flights.
Hi Jorge – ah, the murky world of imitation food products. I could similarly warn you about pretend Jaffa Cakes in the UK. Sometimes only the originals will do :)
Hahahahaha… Good warning. Will remember that next time in UK.
I am thinking it may be time for a biscuit world cup (just have the knock-out stages) to sort out which is the Brazilian champion :) You have some absolute crackers in Brazil such as the banana-ones and those ones made from peanuts (can’t remember either names right now). Also, you have to take into account their cafezinho-compatibility though as a Brit I appreciate your tea-based perspective.
When you say the peanut ones, do you mean pé de moleque or is there an conventional peanut biscuit I’m missing out on? I think there might have to be a steward’s inquiry on whether pé de moleque counts as a biscuit. ;)
No, it isn’t pé de moleque (which is awesome) but the more crumbly tube shaped ones that come in little yellow packs. I guess if we can include Jaffa Cake in a biscuit world cup then we have to include pé de moleque.
Ah, Paçoca perhaps? So many peanutty treats out there!
Have you tried Qualitá chocolate rosquinhas?
No! Oh man, sounds like I might have to start a new section “Biscuit Corner” to review them all! A useful service and one I’d be very happy to provide :)
The Goiabinhas look irresistible and I’d have a hard time not eating a lot more than I should. The other ones look a bit Spartan in comparison and would probably sit uneaten until I’d devoured all of the Goiabinhas first, but you have more willpower than I do.
Ha ha, that’s pretty much what happened Phil. Only difference was that having opened both packets, I left them unattended for a couple of hours and when I returned I found the ants had stepped in to do my waistline a favour. Damn ants!!
I love Piraque biscoitos, especially Creme Sandwich Chocolate. The first time I tried “biscoito da vaquinha” I was only 8 years old. My mom decided to take us on a coach trip from Aparecida( Sao Paulo) to Monte Azul(Minas Gerais state border with Bahia), almost 19 hours journey :P. The coach stopped a few times, that’s when she bought it for us, hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!
Ooh, those chocolate sandwich ones look great :D Remind me a bit of a bourbon. There’s something about those childhood treats that never leaves you, right?
Great article. Despite being a simple article brought me back good memories.. :-)
Eating 5 of that Goiabinha biscuit is so “fulfilling” that makes you not to wanna have a meal in a while..
But we all gotta remember that Guavas, especially that biscuit, gives totally the opposite effect as Actvia LOL so hey better not to eat it all at once!
Vaquinha is a classic of any Brazilian kid’s childhood. I also remember buying it because of the cows on the package, they were damn cute. But the flavor is also “unique” somehow.. Not my fav one though.
Guavas biscuits have increased significantly the price (just like everything else). Before 2000, I used to buy (or better, my mom lol) for 1 BRL or so. Today is almost 3 bucks and some local markets more than that… Not cool.
Woah, 5? Kudos Raz, I think even someone as greedy as me stops after 4 ;)
I imagine that in Germany when one is served a tasty biscuit soaked in coffee it is polite to say dunke schön.
Ouch!
Hi Tom! You’re talking about my favourite brazilian biscuits since my childhood! Have you tried the cocoa version of biscoito da vaquinha? It’s just as good as the original one. I just can’t stop eating them! It comes on a green package,also by Piraque. Working at home has this liittle problem…..you better watch otherwise you’re going to gain some extra kilos : )! Those little biscoitos are delicious and full of fat!!! Liked your tea strategy,I will try it! Have a nice weekend!!!!
Cristina
Ooh, I have to try the chocolate ones! Oh no, maybe you have introduced me to a new temptation… ;)
Tom, I meant the coconut flavour, not cocoa.. I just made a english language mistake, the chocolate one I haven’t tried yet! : )
Ahhh! I hope the chocolate ones exist – they sound so good! :D Coconut would be nice with a cup of tea too.