A few days ago I opened up to you guys (very bravely I think) and told you about a couple of the insects I fear. Today I want to redress the balance a little and tell you about an insect that I am just dying to eat meet. It goes by the name Tanajura and with no further ado let’s take a look at one:
Tanajura – a flying leaf-cutter ant with an enlarged, erm, abdomen.
I know, it’s not exactly pretty is it? But, as I just hinted, my interest is not entirely entomological.
My first brush with Guaraná was at the tender age of 14. A new product was being hyped on the shelves of my local newsagents – Guarana Gum. Apparently this magical green bubble gum would give me an energy ‘buzz’ and there was definitely an implication that perhaps this exotic ingredient from the Amazon might have some kind of narcotic effect. As far as I was concerned this stuff was called “Ger-RAH-ner” and one try was enough to convince me that it was a big disappointment.
Fast forward 20 years and Guaraná is now an everyday soft drink (or refrigerante as they say in Portuguese) and I have learned that it is properly pronounced: gwah-ra-NAH. The drink is very sweet, tasting a bit like bubblegum. The active ingredient of the drink comes from the fruit of a climbing plant native to the Amazon basin. Guaraná fruit have high levels of caffeine (twice that of coffee) and as such can stimulate memory and alertness. There have also been studies that suggest a it may suppress appetite as well as antioxidant, antibacterial and (you guessed it!) aphrodisiac effects.
So that is Guaraná. And this is Guaraná Jesus:
This is Guaraná Jesus. An unusual name for a drink that has an interesting history.
Recently, I have received a number of messages from people curious to hear more about the various plants I grow in my window boxes (you can’t prove that this is a lie, so let’s just go with it shall we?). I responded that surely not many people would be interested in my horticultural antics and anyway, how can I give this a spin that would make it anything to do with Rio specifically? They were quite insistent and said I’d think of something. Well, I am still a little dubious, but I’ve never been very good at saying no… (even to imaginary people)
Yesterday I was forced into doing a herbal harvest. I say ‘forced’ because things were getting quite out of hand. Not only were the basil plants turning into small trees, but the oregano was starting to strangle the roses and all the plants (apart from the poor roses) were starting to flower. Drastic action was required.
Ever wondered what a chive flower looks like? (of course you have...)
Yesterday I told you about the Sanduichão (better known as Torta Salgada Fria), an enormous, savoury, sandwich cake, often decorated with large amounts of mayonnaise and tomatoes that have been cut into pretty rose shapes. Looking at the comments I think it’s fair to say that the non-Brazilians who have tried it (been subjected to it?) did not like it. Too much mayonnaise was a common complaint. But of all the comments, the one that made me laugh the hardest (in a mean way) was Brasilicana’s:
I am permanently prejudiced against the Sanduichão because my first experience with one was traumatic. It was covered in mayo (without all the veggies on top) and it was dark at the party. I cut a big slice for myself, thinking it was cake, and imagine my surprise when I tasted corn, chicken, and lettuce. BLARGH!
Ahhhh, I know it’s not nice to laugh, but I can’t help it – I’m a bad person I guess. As well as making me laugh, Brasilicana’s story brought to mind all kinds of food-surprise memories.
It does look like cake doesn’t it? With the lighting low, I’m sure we’d all make the same mistake… (Thanks to Rebecca for the link).
If you’ve been reading Eat Rio for a while, you may remember a post about the air conditioned Big Fresh bus – Frescão. In that post I mention that in Portuguese you can make some words bigger (or just more) by adding ão on the end, so that ‘fresh’ (fresco) becomes big fresh (Frescão!). Well it works with sandwiches too! Feast your eyes on the SANDUICHÃO (sounds like sandwish-OW!):
We got to the party a little late, so most of this monster was already gone, but nevertheless, I hope this gives you an idea of the magnitude of this sandwich(ão).