Over the past decade, Brazil has seen a meteoric rise in veganism. They have come from nowhere, to overtake many western countries. Official figures show that the number of vegetarians has doubled to around 14%, so that is a whopping 30 million Brazilians identifying as vegetarian or vegan. Important to note is that there is a widespread acceptance of the validity of the move, with the majority of the population moving in the same direction, if not moving all the way.
This is even more surprising in a country where cows out number people and which boasts of being the world's number one exporter of beef. There is a backlash as people are experiencing first hand the repercussions these policies are having. Both on health with growing rates of obesity and to the environment with the deforestation of the Amazon.
Brazilian cuisine is rich in fresh and exciting fruit and vegetables and traditional vegan dishes have always existed, with other traditional dishes undergoing simple adaptations to create a wide range of typically Brazilian vegan foods.
With this surge of vegans growing constantly, Brazil is creating new great locations for vegan tourists, with restaurants, bars, and all sorts of services springing into existence with amazing creativity and business flair. Already with over 300 fully vegan establishments around the country, it's easy enough to hunt down vegan options in most places, none more easier than São Paulo, which has almost half of the fully vegan addresses.
São Paulo
It's no surprise that the vegan wave really took off big time here in São Paulo. Widely regarded as the restaurant capital of South America, with a cosmopolitan population tuned in to the fast changing world events. Brazil’s biggest city full of food lovers who are flocking in droves to experience the new creative vegan cuisine. Vegan ice cream parlors, burger joints, sweet shops, every option is catered to. Many have now been established for several years and they are all drawing huge crowds. So much so, that it is going mainstream, with all the city's key players now offering a wide range of vegan dishes on their menus. Dining with friends is now easy to do, and few people will be judging your food choices as crazy.
Campos do Jordão
If you're looking for a quick getaway from São Paulo, look no further than Campos do Jordão, the town tucked away in the Mantiqueira mountains, the so-called “Brazilian Alps”. It is a popular getaway for people all around Brazil’s south-east, as soon as the temperatures begin to drop. With charming chalets and cobbled streets, the town really does remind one of a Swiss village, and it is also home to the best-regarded vegan hotel in the country.
In the middle of town, you can find spots which serve no meat whatsoever, underlining their commitment to the environment by offering full vegan and vegetarian menus for all guests.
Belo Horizonte
If you are at all aware of the typical cuisine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, you wouldn’t expect its capital Belo Horizonte to be a vegan food hotspot, but you’d be wrong. Food from Minas is typically stodgy and relies heavily on pork and cheese, but in Belo Horizonte, you don’t need to eat meat to enjoy the excellent local cuisine.
The super traditional cheese bread pão de queijo can be found in its vegan version, using yams in place of the cheese. The delicious leaves and fruits of the ora-pro-nóbis shrub, a classic component in Minas Gerais cuisine, can be used in some of the state's traditional dishes to replace meat.
As well as countless vegan restaurants, Belo Horizonte is also home to a vegan "butcher," who sells all sorts of burgers, cold cuts, and other proteins, none of which are made from meat.