A journey through the flavors and festivals of Brazil, from the Mountains of Rio Grande do Sul to the state of Amazonas.
There are those who travel and never miss the chance to taste the culinary specialties of the places they visit. And there are those who set out with the purpose of embarking on a gastronomic journey and, when there’s free time, also indulge in tourism.
If you belong to the second group, the good news is that Brazil hosts several internationally recognized gastronomic festivals, combining good food, good drink, and, why not, a good dive into local cultures.
In this regard, one of the most interesting is the Tiradentes Culture and Gastronomy Festival. It annually gathers over 40,000 people, who consume 2,500 tons of food and 6,000 bottles of wine. The event takes place at the end of August and combines good food with the fascinating landscape of Tiradentes, the historical city in Minas Gerais. The program also includes cooking classes and 
visits to different restaurants, so you can taste a bit of each one’s specialties.
Rio de Janeiro also hosts great events in this area. The Búzios Gastronomic Festival brings together 50 local restaurants in a celebration that includes performances by musicians and artists during the month of July. The Rio Wine and Food Festival takes place in October and is considered “one of the largest wine and gastronomy events in the world.” Its aim is to popularize and demystify the drink. The charming city of Paraty is also on the list with the Gastronomic Folia, which occurs in November and includes workshops and classes for children!
If you plan to combine good food with a mountain atmosphere, you can’t miss the “Festa da Colônia” in Gramado, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and the 
Mountain Gastronomy Festival in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo. The first features delights from Portuguese, Italian, and German cuisine in an 18-day festival. The second also offers opportunities for recycling and updating for professionals in the field through lectures and meetings. Both take place in April and May.
However, if you want to indulge in Amazonian specialties, the “Para-Ver-o-Peso” Culinary Festival in the state of Pará, in May, brings together renowned Brazilian and foreign chefs, along with ingredients and products found only in the vast forest.
Lovers of so-called “boteco gastronomy” are not left out. For them, there is Comida di Buteco, which takes place in 20 cities and annually chooses the best snack from each one and the best “boteco” in Brazil. Or, as it is advertised, “the best boteco food.” If you travel across the country between April and May, when the event takes place, make sure to check if the city is participating in the contest.
With so many options, food lovers have plenty of reasons to be amazed.